Jack Lee Cassingham

Jack Cassingham of Whitewater and Elkhorn, Wisconsin, passed away on October 18, 2019. He was 85. He is preceded by his wife, Donna White Cassingham, and survived by his second wife of 13 years, Janice Johnson Cassingham; his children Scott Cassingham and Lynn Cassingham Davis; his grandchildren Drew Davis, Diane Davis, Colleen Cassingham, and Chris Cassingham; and his great grandchildren Summer Holland and Wyatt Holland.

Jack was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, where he graduated from the University of Missouri. He earned his master’s degree in piano performance from Northwestern University in Chicago, and received his Ph.D. in Music History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 1967 he moved with his young family to Whitewater to teach music history at the University of Wisconsin, where he taught for 28 years. During his tenure there he founded and conducted the Early Music Ensemble. In retirement he lived near his children in Dallas, but returned to live in Elkhorn in 2006 when he married Janice. In both Whitewater and Dallas he was a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

Jack was known for his soft heart and quick wit. His students knew him as a tough but caring teacher. His enduring joy was his grandchildren and their exploits and achievements, in whom he was justifiably proud.

The family would like to recognize Jack’s extraordinary love and affinity for animals. Memorials may be made to the Lakeland Animal Shelter in Elkhorn.

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