It is announced via social media Sunday that former Michigan Senator Tom Casperson (from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) has passed away at the age of 61 after a long battle with lung cancer.

As reported and confirmed by Jack Hall of the Radio Results Network, Casperson was diagnosed with Stage Four lung cancer back in 2018. He was continued to battle cancer for the next two years. He declared himself cancer-free at one point, before it made a comeback shortly after.

Before going into politics, Casperson was a logger for three decades. He successfully ran for a spot in the Michigan House in 2002, in which he represented the 108th District (Delta, Dickinson, and Menominee counties) for three terms.

Casperson worked for the Michigan Republican Party before going on a campaign for the Michigan Senate in 2010.

He would successfully win the seat, becoming the U.P.’s first Republican Senator in over a century. He would also run for the U.S. Senate seat representing Michigan, but lost to current Congressman Jack Bergman.

It’s an incredible loss for our community,” said State Rep. Beau LaFave (R-Iron Mountain) told RRN News. “To lose such an iconic guy. When I was growing up, I knew Tom Casperson. And I hoped one day that maybe I would be able to work with him, and it was a privledge of a lifetime to do that.

“Tom Casperson did more than any other lawmaker, in the era of term limits, than any other, in the Upper Peninsula. His legacy of fighting the good fight and just constantly bringing wins back to the Upper Peninsula, he’ll never be forgotten for that,” State Rep. LaFave added.

All flags will be lowered at half staff Monday in the city of Escanaba to honor the memory of Casperson.

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