John “Jack” LaGasse, publisher of The Thorp Courier for 32 years, started in the position in 1954. At the time, Jack shared publishing duties with his father-in-law, William S. Wagner, and Robert Elkins. In 1975, Jack began co-publishing the newspaper with his wife, Joyce.
Jack will be remembered for his diligent participation in the Thorp Male Chorus, Thorp Fire and Ambulance Department, American Legion, Masons, VFW and the Thorp Businessmen’s Association, among many other community organizations. He founded the Miss Thorp program, a pageant that’s part of the city’s annual Dairy Days celebration. Jack also received the Businessman of the Year Award.
Jack died Oct. 18, 2014, at 89. He had four children, 11 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
