WILBUR "BILL" GASPER Long time business owner, Bill Gasper, passed away February, 10 2005. He is survived by his wife, Trudy, of 68 years; daughters, Wendy (Jerry) Meredith of Fort Wayne, IN. and Holly (Tony) Morris of Schererville, IN; granddaughters, Melissa Wray of Valparaiso, IN and Lexie Morris of Vacaville, CA; and two great grandchildren. Bill was born August 15, 1914, in South Chicago. Bill's passion for cycling began in his youth, when he rode with the turn of the century racing club, the South Chicago Wheelman, and included his riding in the 1938 Olympic trials. As a teen, Bill worked for Silver Cup Bakery and then the Gary Steel Mills, always knowing that he would some day own his own bike store. He and his father-in-law, Richard Nacke, laid the block and built the building for his first store in the early 1950's. The store, Pint Size, opened in the Hessville section of Hammond, as a toy store with bikes and hobbies. In 1967, he opened his second store, Ridge Cyclery, in Highland, becoming one of the top selling Schwinn dealerships in the country. Together in 1965, Bill and Trudy started the Calumet Wheelmen one of the first and largest cycling clubs in NW Indiana. Bill cycled across the USA twice and together he and his wife traveled and rode their bicycles throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and including more than twenty countries around the world. One of his favorite trips was cycling from San Diego, to Savanna, GA. Bill was a long time suporter of many cycling organizations, was instrumental initiating interest in the first bike paths in northwest IN and enjoyed serving as past VP of Chicago area Bicycle Dealers Assn., and American Youth Hostels. Bill lived a full life and lived his passion with only two regrets, "I never made time to learn to play golf, and never rode a Harley motorcycle." A private family service was held with interment at Calumet Park Cemetery. Arrangement entrusted to Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, Merrillville. Donations appreciated to : St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, P.O. Box 3704, Memphis, TN 38103
Published in Post-Tribune from March 19 to March 20, 2005