Richard &#8220Dick” Frank Kaspar Sr.

Palmer resident Richard Dick Frank Kaspar Sr., 81, died Oct. 21, 2005, in Valley Hospital in Palmer.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, at Valley Funeral Home in Palmer, with Pastor Glen Suiter officiating.

Visitation for family will be from 10-10:30 a.m. and for friends, visitation will be from 10:30-11 a.m. Graveside services and burial will follow at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

Mr. Kaspar was born in Chugwater, Wyo., on March 13, 1924.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1961 and was a veteran of World War II and a Pearl Harbor survivor, stationed aboard the USS Phoenix.

In 1947, he married Virginia Kaspar, his wife of 36 years. He worked for the civil service as a steamfitter from 1962 to 1979.

In 1966, he moved to Palmer. He worked for the state of Alaska as a maintenance engineer and retired from civil service at Fort Richardson.

He was a member of the Elks, Moose and Shriners organizations. He was active in community service, working with the Emblem Club, Boy and Girl Scouts of America and the Rainbow Girls.

He enjoyed making repairs, mowing the yard and doing anything to better his surroundings.

His family wrote, &#8220Pop was a very compassionate and private man who loved his family. He had missed our mother's presence over the last 12 years. We believe they are now rejoined in heaven. They supported each other through military and community service.”

His wife, Virginia Kaspar; parents, Joseph and Anna Kaspar; sisters, Helen Milburn and Sadie Cuhatt, and a grandchild, Kali Reeves-Bush, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his son, Richard Kaspar of Palmer; daughters, Pamela Bush and Karen Dewberry of Anchorage, Melissa Cabo of Palmer and Susan Kaspar of Valdez; daughter-in-law, Diana Kaspar of Palmer; son-in-law, Ben Cabo of Palmer; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 204, Anchorage, AK 99503.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.