Martha Jane Kasson

Mrs. Martha J. Kasson (McCully) passed away at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, on July, 3rd, 2026.

Martha was born in Bloomington, Illinois, on the fourth of October 1935. She was the daughter of State Representative and Appropriations Committee Member, Dean McCully and Mrs. Sally (Sal) McCully. She attended school in Minonk through high school graduation. In high school she was a majorette and active in many school organizations and became an avid golfer. During the summers, she lived at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where she spent time with family and friends. An accomplished swimmer and water skier, she spent many days enjoying their family Chris Craft “woody speedboat” called the “Minonk”. Following high school graduation, she attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. While at Northwestern, she met and became engaged to Robin “Rob” Kasson of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who had attended the Baylor School near Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.

Following Rob’s graduation from Northwestern, they were married on August 15, 1955, at the Minonk Methodist Church with a reception at the McCully home near Minonk. Soon after their marriage, Rob began his career with the 3M Corporation in Minnesota. In January 1957, their first daughter, Kelly Anne Kasson (Coppinger) was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They soon traveled with 3M to various parts of the United States. Their second daughter, Nancy Jean Kasson was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in March 1959. While in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Martha became a lifelong LSU Tiger football fan. She and Rob attended many Tiger games, often sitting at the top of the stadium seats due to ticket expense. Regardless, they loved the Tiger team and made sure Kelly and Nancy became LSU fans, as well.

After Baton Rouge, they lived in Austin and Dallas, Texas where Martha was an active member of the Junior League, sponsoring local charities including meeting Arnold Palmer during their support of the Byron Nelson Golf Classic professional golf tournament. Following their time in Texas, they moved to the 3M headquarters in St Paul where she began working at a favorite ladies’ boutique, Jackson Graves. While in Minnesota, between work and raising her daughters, she became an accomplished golfer, making two holes in one at their golf clubs in Dallas and Lake Geneva. During February 1984, they welcomed their first granddaughter, Alison Lynn Coppinger, who was born in Wichita, Kansas. In 1990, their second granddaughter, Molly Morgan Coppinger, was born at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Following Rob’s retirement, they traveled extensively to Europe to include, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, the Baltics, and Russia. They also visited their daughter Kelly, and her family, while they were assigned overseas in England with the Air Force. They traveled often to Northern Minnesota to visit their daughter Nancy and her life-long partner, Rick Kaczmarczyk, at their lake house on Lake Osakis, Minnesota.

Martha and Rob eventually retired in Bonita Springs, Florida (winter) and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (summer). They continued to be members of the historic Bigfoot Country Club in Fontana, Wisconsin. At Bigfoot, Martha was one of the top Bridge players in the club. Rob and Martha enjoyed playing golf and boating and were both avid readers and sports fans. They loved the Chicago Cubs and were very excited when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016.

After Rob’s passing in 2022, Martha moved to independent living in Lake Geneva where she enjoyed bridge, reading, daily walks, and visits from family and friends. Martha is survived by daughter Nancy and Rick Kaczmarczyk, granddaughters Alison and Molly, son-in-law Colonel (ret) Steve Coppinger, and sister and brother-in-law, Dick and Ginnie Miller. Martha was predeceased by brother Donald McCully, sister Nancy, and her eldest daughter, Kelly who passed away in 2020. Martha was also very close to her niece, Beth Hakes and cousin Jim Livingston, both of Wisconsin.

The Kasson family especially thanks the professional health care staff at the Gardens at Ridgestone and the Hospice staff who supported Martha during her residence there.

Her memorial service will be announced at a future date.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org or Inspiration Ministries at https://www.inspirationministries.org/.

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Derrick Funeral Home of Lake Geneva is honored to be assisting Martha's family.