Tom Casperson

Tom Casperson, the former state lawmaker from Escanaba hailed as a “titan of the Upper Peninsula” by fellow Republicans in the Michigan Senate, died Sunday of cancer at age 61.

Casperson served six years representing the 108th District in the Michigan House, followed by two terms representing the 38th District in the Michigan Senate beginning in 2010. He was forced out by term limits in 2018.

He announced he had stage four lung cancer in 2018.

“Sen. Tom Casperson was a giant in the Upper Peninsula,” said state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, who succeeded Casperson both in the state House and Senate. “His passing leaves an unfillable hole in the hearts of those who loved him and in the lives of the people he served for so many years.”

Casperson was a conservative voice on taxes and regulation who frequently criticized state agencies for how they regulated wetlands and forests, the Detroit Free Press reported.

He cast a key vote to expand Medicaid during Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration. Casperson was praised by unions for voting against right-to-work legislation, which made union membership voluntary. The bill, however, was signed into law.

“He was a constant champion of the U.P., and gave voice to those too often left out of the process.” said Dan Scripps, chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Born and raised in Escanaba, Casperson told The Daily News in January 2019 one of his proudest accomplishments while serving in the state house was sponsoring a bill that put parameters on underground mining and cleared the way for the Eagle Mine to begin operations.

“That allowed for mining operations to start moving forward,” Casperson said in the Daily News article. “(And) 430 people have jobs now because of it.”

McBroom in a written statement Monday said Casperson “fought the good fight — in the logging business, in the halls of the state Capitol, against cancer — and did so humbly, with dignity and grace, yet with the spirit of a world champion. He attacked everything with passion. Big or small, he made the people’s issues his issues. To have Tom Casperson on your side was to have a teammate unwilling to quit, and that is part of what made him such a beloved and effective legislator in the U.P.

“As colleagues and friends, Tom and I shared many moments together, often in the car during hours-long commutes listening to the Packers on the radio. But what I most cherish is our shared love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That bond of faith helped each of us through many discouragements and hard moments when the way to live our faith was anything but clear. For me, he was the embodiment of Proverbs 27:17: ‘As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.’

“I had my last chat with Tom a few days ago. We celebrated some great wins and bemoaned the continuing struggles across the U.P. We talked about the need to keep mining, doing forestry and moving propane. He spoke of his love for his family and friends and we prayed together, thanking God for eternal life. I know I will see him again. The best is yet to come.

“Tom was a brother, a friend, a mentor, a confidant and a partner in both work and fun. He helped me get into professional politics and guided me every step of the way. To say that he meant the world to me would be an understatement,” McBroom wrote.

Casperson, whose family has operated a log trucking business in Escanaba for three generations, made an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2016 but lost in the Republican primary.

He is survived by his wife, Diane, and their four children.

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The Associated Press and Lisa Bowers of the Mining Journal in Marquette contributed to this report.