Obituary of Waldo Bertrand Asp

Waldo Bertrand Asp, age 88, died March 21, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. There will be a celebration of his life on August 6, 2023, at Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Waldo was born April 21, 1934, in Saint Paul, Minnesota to Obed and Elizabeth (Nelson) Asp. His father’s pastoral appointments by the Methodist bishop sent his family to small towns in western Wisconsin and later to Minnesota. In high school, he worked at the local hardware store learning all sorts of trade skills, which he stated was the most practical education he ever received.

In 1956 Waldo graduated from Mankato State University. He treasured the two summers he worked at Yellowstone National Park, which left an indelible imprint on his life, inspiring his naturalistic artwork and enhancing his lifelong love of nature. He graduated from Garrett Evangelical Seminary, affiliated with Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, with a master of divinity degree. While in seminary, he painted homes and served three churches in the Sextonville, Wisconsin area. Once ordained, he moved with his wife and two young daughters to Yakima Valley, Washington, where he served two churches. Waldo subsequently returned with his family to the Midwest to pursue further education and a teaching career.

In 1968, when the parking lots were still dirt and textbooks had not yet arrived, Waldo became part of the original faculty for Normandale Community College. There he found a satisfying career and taught for thirty years. At Normandale he initiated and ultimately became department chair of the philosophy department. He also taught English, ethics, logic, and comparative religions. He was proud of his mentorship of the award-winning Eidolon student literary publication.

During his tenure at Normandale, Waldo met and married his second wife, Irene, thus blending two families whose lives were enhanced by their loving family dogs. Waldo was rarely seen without his beloved German Shepherds. With Irene he designed a home in Bloomington, finishing many parts using the professional skills he had acquired through his hard work, acquired know-how, and natural aptitude. Throughout his teaching career he also maintained a small but successful painting and contracting business.

A strong work ethic and natural gregariousness were fundamental elements of Waldo’s character. His greatest pleasure was derived from the camaraderie of sharing time and tasks with others. After retirement in 1998, Waldo again combined his creative ability with practical application by personally building (with assistance from family and friends) his lake home in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.

In his retirement, Waldo also became more deeply involved in public service. Over the years, he served as Edgewater town chair, as a Sawyer County Board of Appeals member, as president of the Hayward Area AARP, as Northwest Wisconsin’s coordinator for the AARP Driver Safety Program, as chair of the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and as co-chair of the Sawyer County LCO Democratic Party. In 2012, Waldo was awarded the “Andrus Award for Community Service”, AARP Wisconsin’s most prestigious volunteer award, given annually for outstanding community service.

Waldo contributed much of his time and energy to organizations dedicated to water and environmental quality, co-creating a lake association to protect the waters where he lived and co-creating a nearby woodland trail (Green Lake – Sis Trail). It was immensely gratifying to him that the lake community has not only continued but improved upon these projects. In 2020 he was deeply honored to be awarded the role of president emeritus by the thriving lake association.

An avid reader, Waldo had a lifelong curiosity about and interest in history, philosophy, religion, science and all manner of human endeavor. With frequency he expressed gratitude for his life and for those who contributed to it. He believed we have a fiduciary duty to take care of the planet and to work toward creating a more just and peaceful world.

Waldo is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Irene; daughters Barbara (John) Berlin, Mary (Arthur) Pearson, stepson Eric Leffler, and stepdaughter Tanya Leffler; grandchildren Kirstin (Brett) Scherer, Alexandria (Kiel) Harton, Anthony Pearson (and fiancé YangYang Zhao), Jesse Pearson, and William Berlin; great grandchildren Zoey Hodges, Jaden Scherer, Colton Scherer, Sophia Harton, and Bennett Harton; sister Carla Susan Olsen, friend and first wife Marlene Raiche, nieces Kathy (William) Bonnell and Caroline (Kristjan) Sells, and nephew Scott Olsen.

Preceded in death by his parents Obed and Elizabeth Asp; sister Elsbeth Hinck, brothers-in-law Henry Hinck, Lyle Miles, Paul Mosman, and Clarion Olsen; nephew Jonathan Hinck; and his beloved German Shepherds.