John Howard Elsperger, 66, of Cando, North Dakota, passed away Saturday,January 17, 2015, at the Towner County Medical Center in Cando. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 22, 2015, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 304 3rd Ave, Cando, at 10:30 a.m. with Father Joseph D'Aco and Deacon James Eggl celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 21, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cando, ND followed by a Vigil Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will also continue on Thursday for one hour prior to the services in the church.

John was born August 29, 1948, in Devils Lake, North Dakota, to John and Kathleen (Howard) Elsperger. After growing up on the family farm near Maza, ND, and graduating from Cando High School in 1966, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1970.

John was united in marriage to the love of his life, Diana Lyn Germann on July 12, 1969, in Bowman, ND. After teaching in Karlsruhe and Fort Totten, ND, they moved to Cando in 1975, joined the family farm, and together, raised their four children. John enjoyed teaching high school history and social sciences with a sense of humor at Cando High School, where he followed his passion of coaching high school basketball for twenty-five years.

He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, having served on its Parish Council and various committees. In addition to serving on several boards and committees, John was most proud of collaborating as a member of the Cando School Board and the North Star School Board, most recently serving as President; the Cando Education Association, having served several terms as President; and serving on the Towner County Water Board and the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board.

Living life to its fullest, John loved to share a laugh and touched many lives with his wit, wisdom, and warm heart. He most enjoyed sharing his children's lives and families with Diana; his grandchildren were the apples of his eye. John was a natural storyteller and avid reader with a joy for travel. He was a fixture at sporting events and will forever be affectionately known as "Papa Cub" or "Big John," in support of his Cando Cubs and North Star Bearcats.

John is survived by his wife, Diana; and his children, Angela (Winston) Lord; John (Kim) Elsperger; Katrina (Chris) Kvilvang; and Travis (Melissa) Elsperger; and his ten grandchildren: Christian, Macey, Keaton, and Adelyn Kvilvang; Chloe and Foster Lord; Mia and Mack Elsperger; and Avery and Tatum Elsperger. He is also survived by his siblings, Wanda (Desi) Sporbert; Bruce Elsperger; and Erin (Melvin) Klingenberg, and several nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Kathleen Elsperger, and three infant siblings.