Obituary of Newell D. Jasperson

Newell D. Jasperson, 98, died December 14, 2016 at his home in Cranmoor. He was surrounded by his family. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21st at the United Methodist Church in Port Edwards. Rev. David Guse will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery in Wisconsin Rapids. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20th at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home. There will be a luncheon and time of fellowship at Bull’s Eye Country Club immediately following the service on Wednesday. Newell Downs Jasperson was born on November 4, 1918 to Clarence A. Jasperson and Harriet (Whittlesey) Jasperson in Port Edwards, Wisconsin. He attended the Port Edwards schools and was in the second graduating class of the newly built high school in 1935. Newell’s father was secretary and treasurer of Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company, and his mother was the daughter of Sherman Newell Whittlesey, one of the original cranberry pioneers in Wood County. Whittlesey Cranberry was established in 1871. When Grandfather Whittlesey died in 1935, Newell was given the opportunity to operate the marsh upon graduating from college. With that goal in mind, he entered the College of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, graduating in 1939 with a B.S. in Entomology. He belonged to the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. While at the university, Newell met Helen Hernlem of Red Wing, MN. They were married on January 25, 1940 and began their life together on the marsh in Cranmoor as the third generation in the family cranberry business. They were blessed with three children – Stephen, William, and Jo Ann. Newell and Helen had a true partnership in the marsh lasting 75 years. Helen passed away on July 17, 2014. Newell saw his beloved cranberry marsh celebrate 145 years this past summer and experienced his 78th harvest last fall. Newell and Helen’s wisdom, guidance, strong work ethic, sacrifice, and commitment have provided a legacy of character that will never be forgotten. Newell has been a leader in the cranberry business. He was active in the WSCGA, serving a term as president and hosting the summer meeting at the marsh. Newell was one of the growers instrumental in the formation of the Wisconsin Cranberry Sales Company and was named as a director in 1945, serving until 1956, at which time Whittlesey Cranberry joined Ocean Spray. Newell served on the Ocean Spray Board of Directors from 1971 – 1985. Newell has been at the forefront of significant innovations, such as experimenting with the utilization of overhead irrigation sprinklers as early as 1953 and entirely protecting the marsh with overhead sprinklers by 1967. Whittlesey Cranberry introduced the beater system of harvesting cranberries to central Wisconsin in 1968. In 2006 Newell conceived and developed a new way to move the berries to the pump in the harvest beds with the design of the “cranberry carousel.” Newell was a supporter of UW-Madison, providing the marsh for cranberry researchers to use for field experiments. A private pilot and amateur photographer of some renown, Newell gave presentations on cranberry growing to public audiences featuring both ground and aerial photography. His photos have appeared in Wisconsin Trails Magazine and other publications. Cranberry World in Plymouth, MA featured Newell’s pictures in a continuously running slide show at the visitor’s center. The Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association (WSCGA) presented Newell with the Service to Industry Award in 2006. Newell obtained his pilot’s license in 1946 and thus began a lifetime love of flying, first with a Cessna 140, then his Cessna 170. In 1991 Newell enjoyed the challenge of building a Zenair STOL airplane to fly in the later years. Newell served on the Board of Directors of the Wood County National Bank from 1965 – 1988. He was a director on the board of the Nekoosa-Port Edwards Savings and Loan from 1964 – 1986. Newell was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church of Port Edwards. For many years Newell was a part of the “Has Beens” Tuesday lunch group, which provided much appreciated support to him these last three months by meeting in his home. In 1956 Newell was a charter member of the Cranmoor Skeet Club and participated until the end of his life. Newell and Helen were charter members of the Tri-City Curling Club in 1957 and curled for many years. In 1960 the Cranmoor Sodbusters began years of curling together and attained the club championship. Newell was skip for the team. Golf was a lifelong sport for Newell. His parents were charter members of Bull’s Eye Country Club in 1922, so he was “on the course” since the age of 4. Newell and Helen shared a love of golf together. In 2010 at 91 Newell last golfed “his age.” He played golf regularly at BECC through the summer of 2013. Newell and Helen were members of the Bascom Hill Society at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. They were also strong in their support of the Marshfield Clinic as charter members of the Lawton Society, created as the first philanthropic organization established for clinic friends and donors. This is now part of the 1916 Society, established in honor of the year the Marshfield Clinic was founded, and committed to a mission of medical excellence in patient care, research and education. Newell and Helen have thus been recognized in the newly published “100 YEARS Marshfield Clinic Legacy Book.” Newell is survived by children: William (Susan) Jasperson; Jo Ann (Guy) Detlefsen; and daughter-in-law Ann Jasperson; grandchildren: Amy (Mike Emsley) Jasperson; Laurie (Steven) Kovalik; Robert (Lisl) Detlefsen; and Kristen (Paul) Henslin; great-grandchildren: Tyler and Kate Kovalik; Jasper and Wesley Detlefsen; and Natalie and Brycen Henslin; cousin: Charles (Nancy) Whittlesey; nieces: Karen (Rich) Meier; Judy Lawrence; Mary Jane (Roger) Kimmes; Patricia Schroeder; Janet Tomhave; and Peggy (Mike) McNabb. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Helen Jasperson, son Stephen Jasperson, and daughter-in-law Kathleen Jasperson. The family would like to thank Ministry Home Care Hospice for their excellent care. Memorials may be made to the Jasperson Legacy Fund at CurePSP (www.curepsp.org/jasperson) or mailed to CurePSP, 30 E. Padonia Road, Timonium, MD, 21093.