Bruce A. Vesperman

LANCASTER – Bruce A. Vesperman, age 74, of Lancaster, passed away suddenly on Monday, August 26, 2024, at Finley Hospital in Dubuque, IA. He was born on February 15, 1950, in Lancaster, the son of Donald and Margaret (Case) Vesperman, the middle child of seven. Until the time of his death, he resided on the family farm as a fourth-generation farmer.

Bruce graduated from Lancaster High School in 1968. He furthered his education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, graduating with a degree in agriculture. Bruce was drafted into the United States Army and served his country in Germany. On April 24, 1976, he was united in marriage to Judith M. Kuchar. This union was blessed with four children.

Bruce farmed all his life. He also spent time working for Baus Electric and Foremost Farms. After retirement, Bruce took pride in his garden and would look forward to harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers. He figured out how to grow everything in every size: from small herbs to gigantic pumpkins, the largest of which grew to over 915 pounds. He affectionally called these giant pumpkins "my little babies." 

He was often found tinkering in his shop and around the farm, working on his projects and building things for people. Visitors to Vesperman Farms can see his handiwork in many ways: he helped build the big chair many families take pictures with, and he always kept the Duck Races up and running. He spent a whole year researching and building his biggest project; his pride and joy was the trebuchet that is used to launch pumpkins for visitors in the fall. For many years he launched pumpkins out of the trebuchet for the fall season crowds, and before every launch you could hear him booming: "Are you ready!?!?" If he was in the right mood, he would finish the show with his "happy pumpkin dance," which absolutely delighted the school groups who visited the farm. 

Bruce truly enjoyed the visitors to the farm, and he took a lot of happiness in showing off his home. He often offered golf cart rides to families and would take them on a farm tour, telling them about the history, showing them the fields, and chatting about animals or pumpkins or woodworking. He always had a new idea or a new project in the works, and every one of his efforts was focused on improving guests' experiences or making the farm more fun for people. Bruce's hospitality came straight from his sweet heart. Every year he opened his home to thousands of visitors so they could make their own family memories, and he so enjoyed making that happen.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Judy; children: Aaron (Jennifer Klinkhammer) Vesperman, Darcie (Bernie) Dressler, Brian and Kyle Vesperman; five grandchildren: Jeremiah, Gabriella, Josephine, Gabriel, and Luke; his siblings: Steve (Joyce), Larry (Kris), Curt (Helen), Kevin Vesperman, Debra Marchant, and Vernon (Deb) Vesperman; in-laws: Don Kuchar, Pat (Marty) Honer, Mary (Ted) Novinska; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Donald and Margaret, and his mother and father-in-law, Joe and Marie Kuchar, Bruce was preceded in death by his brothers-in-law, David Marchant and John (Bonnie) Kuchar.

Funeral services with military honors will be held Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Martin Schwartz Funeral Homes & Crematory in Lancaster with Pastor Mark Hoehne officiating. Burial will be in Boice Prairie Cemetery, South Lancaster Township. Family and friends are invited to stop by on Friday, August 30, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at Martin Schwartz Funeral Homes & Crematory in Lancaster. The family invites everyone to share memories and stories of Bruce and enjoy ice cream and donuts made at the very farm Bruce always called home.