Former Senator Carmen Kasperbauer Honored at State Funeral

Family, friends, and public officials gathered at the Guam Congress Building on January 2, 2024, to celebrate the life and legacy of former senator Carmen Artero Kasperbauer, who passed away on December 24, 2023, at the age of 90. Kasperbauer, a retired registered nurse and a member of the Republican Party, served in the 15th and 16th Guam Legislatures and was a well-respected community leader deeply involved in local initiatives.

Her casket, draped in the Guam Flag, was solemnly escorted into the legislative session hall for a state funeral. Speaker Frank Blas Jr. noted that the same flag adorning Kasperbauer’s casket was raised over the Guam Congress Building on December 30. During the ceremony, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Chief Justice Robert Torres, and Blas presented an official wreath of Guam to Kasperbauer’s family, received by her husband, former senator Larry Kasperbauer.

In a heartfelt eulogy, Superior Court Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena III reflected on Kasperbauer’s enduring impact, stating, “When I think of Carmen, I don’t think of her time in the legislature, or the title she held. I think of her faith, her kindness, how deeply she cared about this island and its people.” Lamorena, who had been friends with Kasperbauer for nearly five decades, recalled her frequent visits to his courtroom, where she showed a keen interest in local affairs.

Early Life and Resilience

Kasperbauer was born on August 8, 1935, in Hagatña to Antonio and Josefa Artero. Her childhood coincided with the Japanese occupation of Guam during World War II. Lamorena recounted how her parents risked their lives to protect U.S. Navy radioman George Tweed, who was hidden by the family. Kasperbauer would venture into the jungle to deliver food to Tweed, demonstrating remarkable bravery during a perilous time.

Although Guam was officially liberated on July 21, 1944, Kasperbauer’s family remained in hiding until August 8. “She recalled her mother holding her tightly, tears in her eyes, sharing the news that Guam had been rescued by the Americans,” Lamorena said, adding that this day was significant as it also marked her birthday. The faith that sustained her family through wartime struggles remained a cornerstone of Kasperbauer’s life.

Political Legacy and Community Impact

After completing her nursing education at St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in Carroll, Iowa, in 1958, Kasperbauer married Larry and later entered the political arena in the late 1970s. At that time, she was one of only three women in the 21-member legislature, navigating a landscape where women were often underestimated.

Kasperbauer championed numerous legislative initiatives that significantly impacted Guam. She played a vital role in clarifying laws regarding child support enforcement and ensuring that medical professionals on the island were properly trained and licensed. “Carmen demanded that anyone providing medical care on this island should be properly trained and licensed,” Lamorena stated.

Among her notable achievements, she enacted legislation mandating that 1% of the budget for public building construction be allocated for local artwork, thus preserving CHamoru culture and supporting local artists. Furthermore, she authored the law requiring a presidential straw poll in election years, allowing Guam residents to express their opinions on U.S. presidential candidates despite their votes not being counted in the actual election.

Kasperbauer’s commitment to her community extended beyond legislation. Through the Astumbo Catholic Family Mission, she was instrumental in fundraising for the construction of a chapel in Astumbo, Dededo.

“She was a woman of deep faith, courage, humility, and love,” Lamorena concluded. “Her legacy lives on in our laws, our churches, our culture, and in our thoughts and in our communities… Most of all, she lives on in the lives she touched.”

Kasperbauer is survived by her husband, their children Kevin, Karen, Brian, Steven, and Teresa, along with 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.