Emma Gassman

Emma J. “Jane” Gassman, age 83, of Platteville, WI, passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025, in Platteville. She was born January 20, 1942, in Princeton, WV, the daughter of Clarence and Martha (Hill) Cooper. Emma grew up in West Virginia.  She began working as a typist for the FBI right after high school where she attended a dance and met Ken Gassman who was stationed at Ft, Myer in Arlington, VA.  They were married on June 11, 1966, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Platteville. Together, they lived in Platteville where they raised their children and watched their grandchildren grow up. Jane dedicated many years shaping the minds of children that weren't her own at her daycare, treating them all as if they were her own children. She loved watching each of them grow up and become their own individuals.  After closing her daycare, Jane worked at Walmart for many years where she gained many lifelong friends. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Platteville and the Platteville American Legion Auxiliary. Her family was the most important part of her life and she enjoyed the time she spent with them, especially her grandsons. Jane loved to support them at their sporting events and other extracurricular events and made sure they always knew how proud she was of them.

Jane is survived by her children: Charman Reuter of Platteville and Bob Gassman of Sun Prairie, WI; two grandchildren that she absolutely adored: Tom and Cale Reuter; sisters-in-law: Arlene (Jon) Roling-Casel, Zee (Jim) Wood, Mary Bredeson, and Sara (Jerome) Gassman-Randall; brothers-in-law: Jim (Joanie) Gassman, Sy (Sandy) Gassman, and John (Lois) Gassman; and many nieces and nephews. 

Jane was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ken in 2021; her twin sister: Jean Starkey; sisters: Nancy (Dayton) Brown and Georgie (Ron) Bayes; one brother: Kenneth Cooper; and her parents-in-law: Sylvester and Rosemary Gassman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church (130 W. Cedar St., Platteville). Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Platteville. A visitation will be held Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 9:00 A.M. until 9:45 A.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The Melby Funeral Home in Platteville is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.melbyfh.com

 The family would like to express sincere thanks to the ER staff at Southwest Health in Platteville for their compassionate care of Jane.