KASPER
Edna Irena Barsch Kasper, 97, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025 in Abilene, Texas. At the time of Rubin’s passing on the 11th of last month, they had been married for 74 years. She and Rubin moved to Dublin from Mason, Texas in 1971. In 2022, they moved to assisted living in Abilene. Rubin and Edna worked and lived on the Lee Campbell Hereford Ranch where Edna was the office manager, and Rubin was the general manager. Edna enjoyed her work immensely. She taught herself to use a computer back in the days of MS DOS. Edna built a detailed database of the cattle, buyers, and rainfall. In a matter of seconds she could pull up any data on an individual cow, bull, or buyer. She was also a skilled photographer. Edna photographed the herd bulls and the cattle for the sale catalogs at the ranch. Several of her herd bull photographs were used numerous times in national publications.
Edna spent her early years in Lohn, Texas. She was born on February 11, 1928 at the home of her parents in Calf Creek, near Lohn. Edna was the oldest of 5 siblings, all girls, born over a span of 8 years. She also had 2 older half-brothers. From a very young age, Edna was the main caretaker of her sisters, whom she loved dearly. Edna attended grades 1-12 at Lohn, graduating as Valedictorian of her senior class. After high school, Edna worked at the REA office in Brady, where she shared an apartment with her sisters. Edna met Rubin in Brady while cruising the courthouse square. They married in 1951. They had 3 daughters: Darlene, Rita, and Becky.
Edna was a fabulous cook, an accomplished seamstress and loved using her computer. She was a “Googler” and enjoyed researching on the internet. She loved her children and grandchildren and took great pride in all of their activities and accomplishments. To her grandkids, she was Mimi. Mimi loved photographing her family and then printing photos for everyone. She loved spending time with them and assisting in whatever they were doing. One of her grandchildren namedherthe“Everythinger” because Mimi could do just about anything. She always had a way of knowing what her children or grandchildren needed before they asked her. She never missed a Friday hair appointment, took great joy in feeding the hummingbirds and tried her best to keep Rubin in line. At some point, she decided wearing her seatbelt while riding in the pickup through the pasture with Rubin was the smart thing to do. She was correct! Edna was very tenacious and, although few people knew it, fiercely competitive. Edna had a powerful sense of right and wrong and never liked seeing anyone taken advantage of or unfairly maligned. Edna never minded hard work or assisting others, but preferred to work behind the scenes. Over the years, Edna and Rubin were MYF sponsors, as well as Sunday School teachers. Edna kept the nursery at church and sponsored 4-H cooking classes. Edna and Rubin both felt education and helping youth were very important.
Edna was very grateful to the entire staff who assisted and helped take care of her and Rubin at Wisteria and Lyndale Assisted Living. The family wants all of those wonderful people to know how thankful they are for the care and love shown to her and Rubin. They made their world a better place.
Edna is preceded in death by her husband, Rubin Kasper, her parents, Ed and Irena Barsch, her sisters, Dora Whitely, Nell Kidd, Anna Ray Barsch and two half-brothers, Bud Barsch and Otto Barsch. Survivors include her sister, Frieda Chew and her 3 daughters: Darlene Kasper & Jimmy, Rita Kasper & Hans, and BeckyPair&Randy. In addition, she is survived by 4 grandchildren: Birk Billingsley & Haley, Mindy Brandt & Chance, Brady Pair, and Bayley Pair & Jody and two great-grandchildren Hayden Buckley and Cash Brandt. Ednawasabeloved aunt to her nephews and nieces.
A Celebration of Life for both Rubin and Edna will be held on Saturday, May 17 from 1-3 pm at the Little Church on Grafton, 304 N. Grafton,Dublin. Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Home For Children, PO Box 5195, Abilene, TX 79608, (325) 692-0112, www. hendrickhome.org.