Donald R. Kasper

Don you are missed and loved. I think of you daily and i know its coming up on your favorite seasons. Get heavens christmas store stocked neatly. God bless you my friend.

Don, I just learned of your passing. You were a great man and I really appreciated you and loved your stories and friendship. You had a lot of faith in me when you sponsored me in the first Tough-Man contest for Als Sport Shop and was fortunate enough to win for you. Thanks for all the great memories.

Don was a great friend. I worked with him at Walmart in Midland from the time he started u til August 2009 when I moved away. I thought highly of this man. We talked sports when we worked together. I loved him dearly.

Don was a special neighbor to us for many years on Marilyn's Lane. We watched Ken grow up. We're holding Don and all his loved ones close in our hearts.

Coach was probably the most important teacher I ever had. Yes, he was a PE teacher, but life lessons about responsibility and honor are what I remember most. Gone - never forgotten.
-- Bruce Houtman

To the Kasper family I send my deepest condolences for your loss. Helen, I know you brought Don a great deal of joy and comfort and peace to him throughout your marriage
I knew Don starting when I was at Northeast in the 50's and he was my student teacher. That started a relationship that endured untill his passing. I could write a book about our adventures working on my dads paint crew (we gave my dad heart failure when he would watch us competing on the ladders), our fun trout fishing, your visits to Spring Lake, and hanging out together as fellow community center "rats". During our entire relationship I dont remember anything but joy and happiness in our time together.
Your closeness and loyalty to my parents will never be forgotten. You were like another son to Mom & the "Chief".
I am happy I got a chance to talk with you shortly before your passing. Typical Don I would have never known there was anything wrong if I hadnt asked. The entire conversation was upbeat talking about old times and far more concerned with how I was doing than with himself. I am so glad I got a chance to say I love you one more time.
Jim Stoppert & the Stoppert family

Kent and Amy, so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you.

Kent, Amy, Helen (& Todd). Neighbors we were on Marilyn Lane for many years. Don so helped "shape" the lives of our 5 children. He sponsored our son's Little League Teams, a great man. Thank you for everything you did for Midland, MI. Will miss your wonderful smile. RIP George & Judy Vogel & 5 families

Condolences to the Kasper family. Don seemed to have a bigger than life personality and smile. He was a great mentor and first boss. Don had the best people at Al's Sport Shop. The stories, memories of him and time working there as a co-op will be with me forever. So many laughs. He made work really fun.
Thank you Don.

Coach IS a terrific person and will always be in my memory. Rest in peace.

So sorry to hear. Don was a great man who played a big part in our community. Our daughter Marlee thought the world of him as we did. So sorry for the families loss.

I will definitely miss our yearly Santa picture together every year just won't be the same without you!

Coach Kasper, what means much to us in the moment seems lost. Your lasting memories left with us are with us forever. So many, so good. Mike Rudy

I am so sorry for your loss Helen.

Amy Blake

Sad news Coach was a great man who will be missed by all. Bless his family♡♡

You are my best friend, father like figure, cancer buddy and many other things. I will always love you and remember the past.

From playing basketball with Don at the Center to playing on the Al's Sport Shop rec league team to just hanging out talking fishing and such at Al Sport Shop when I worked at Knepp's back in the day, a lot of great and fun memories with Don! A Good Man!

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). When Coach and I reconnected some years back, this is what we did for one another. In particular, he brought me an example of what a true man should be. He always said "love you" when we parted. He's the first man who made it OK for me to say the same. You can look long and hard, but you won't find anyone better than "Coach".

Dear Coach Kasper, you were my first football and track coach at Jefferson, and I learned so much about sticking with it, even when it did not go well, from you. Thank you for all the life lessons that you taught me. All of us who had the pleasure of having you as a teacher, coach, counselor and friend will miss you. Coach, rest in peace after a life well lived and a long journey now completed! Helen, thank you for sharing Don with me and my family when you came to visit!

Thank you for everything. Especially the laughs.

He was my friend and I am going to miss him.
Via con dios pardner!

I love you Don and will miss you dearly my friend...

So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Don was a great man. I will miss him very much!

My Grandfather, Mike Clauss worked with Kasper for many, many years. Starting at Al's sport shop (I still have one of their red and white checkered boxes in my keepsakes). Then I think the names was changed to Gene's Allsports, before closing. Finally, they both went to Dunams's sports where they worked together until my grandfather had to retire for medical reasons. He and Kasper were good buddies and Kasper was always so friendly to us when we would stop in to see my Gramps and get a butterscotch. Kasper usually gave us one of those blue minty or some other hard Brachs candies and big smile, how are you doing and pat on the head..he was a nice guy with a great personality. My grandfather passed years ago hearing of Kasper's passing brings back happy memories of surprising my Gramps with a quick stop in for a hug. I'm sure him and my Gramps are shooting the breeze already. Prayers for his family during this sad time.

My heart is in a million pieces, Don. You and Helen adopted me into your family because my own was just a big huge void. I would come to work early just so we could chat beforehand and you never ceased to lighten my mood. You were my favorite person in the world and I told you that every single day. I will miss our casino trips and birthday dates, and I will especially miss your jokes, your hugs, your wittiness and the way you lit up every room you entered. You meant the world to me. Alex (Big A) won't remember you but I will make sure he knows you. Love you so much, favorite. Watch over Helen please, she needs you.

I am another Al's Sport Shop Employee Alumni. I worked for Don in the mid-70's during high school and college. As my first boss, Don taught me many things that helped my career. He was a great boss. As a professor I use stories about the store in my lectures. He will continue to be fondly remembered.

Kapper,
I never had the privilege of playing for you as my coach, but I did have the experience of playing with you at the CC and the City Leagues. Great memories. You sold me my first Converse Tennis shoes (green ones), my first fishing rod. I've still got it, I've caught Salmon, Steelhead, Pike, Bass, Crappies, and Perch with that rod. You also sold me the first toy I bought for my son, a basketball and hoop. My grandson and I just played with it on Sunday.
I've had some great relationships with several coaches but you always held a SPECIAL place in my heart.

Rest in Peace my friend!!

PS. I don't think they allow hacking in Heaven.

I'm looking forward to being on your team again someday.

Kapper,
I never had the privilege of playing for you as my coach, but I did have the great experience of playing with you at the CC and the City Leagues.
You sold me my first Converse Tennis shoes (green), my first fishing rod and I still have it. I've caught Salmon, Steelhead, Pike, Bass, Crappie, and Perch with that rod. You also sold me my first toy for my son, a basketball and hoop. My grandson and I just played with them on Sunday.
I've had some great relationships with several coaches but you always held a SPECIAL place in my heart.
Rest in Peace my friend!!

PS. I don't think they allow hacking in Heaven. I look forward to being on your team again someday.

Don was a pleasure to work with. Always there with a hug and a smile. Going to miss him. Helen, my prayers for you in this time.

To Helen & all the family: I am so sorry to read of Don's passing. He was always such a kind & caring person & often brought smiles & laughs to those around him. Many people have wonderful memories of all that he did & became. He will be missed. I know that he truly loved each of you. My thoughts, prayers & hugs to you during this time.

Great Boss, friend and mentor. Don will be missed by many including his students, the athletes he coached, his customers at ALS Sporting Goods, the people he competed with and against in Midland softball, basketball and football leagues and the many others he touched in so many ways. A truly great man!

Coach you were the best...you've got a great A Team in Heaven so when I hear thunder rolling I'll know you are leading the Team in an awesome game of sorts. In all my security questions I'm asked for a) my favorite teacher -Coach b) my first love -Coach c) my inspiration -Coach - I could go on and on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness towards this country bumpkin. RIP you awesome man!

You will be greatly missed partner.

I'm sure going to miss seeing your big smile and hearty laugh on my occasional visits back to Midland. You have been a great friend ever since playing football and running track for you at Central. Kids these days need a mentor like you were to me.

You will be serious loss to Midland, its children, and to those of us old enough to appreciate the influence you had on our lives. RIP old friend.

Don was a great friend to me and a father figure to me after I moved to Midland. Worked for him in the mid 70's. What a great man. Love you Don Kasper. May you rest in Peace.

The loss of a great man,friend and mentor... in the Midland community ... RIP my friend..

Love you don

Don... You will be missed greatly... This world is missing another person with a huge and loving heart. Thanks for always being you and being a friend to me and my children... ;-(

To Helen and the kasper family, I send my deepest condolences to you on the passing of a great man Don. I was so blessed to have met don and working with him at 2619 Walmart. He had the biggest heart , generous hugs and always had a kiss for all the ladies. I am going to miss him terribly, but I will always have the memories we shared. Helen I pray that God gives you comfort and strength during this time of sorrow. I will always be here for you for whatever you may need. Don is flying high and looking down on us with a big smile and telling us he is okay, no more illness and no more pain. Don I love you. god bless.