To view the livestream Funeral Service, please go to https://www.facebook.com/unitedgf

Kathleen "Tootsie" B. Gasparini, 73, of Grand Forks, ND passed away on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at her home in Apache Wells, Mesa, AZ.

Tootsie was born in Inkster, ND on April 24, 1948 to LeRoy E. and Beulah (Ulvedal) Nelson.  The family lived in Thompson before moving to Grand Forks.  Tootsie graduated from Grand Forks Central before attending the University of North Dakota, where she joined Alpha Phi, serving as chapter president.  Tootsie earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education while at UND, and after a brief sojourn to Illinois to teach, she returned to Grand Forks to marry the love of her life, John "Gino" Gasparini on December 18, 1971.

While Tootsie was a dedicated supporter of UND Hockey and Gino's biggest fan, she poured her heart and soul into her true calling, Teaching.

Tootsie truly loved her students, and for more than forty years, she has been a staple of the Grand Forks Public School System.  She has done everything from teaching Physical Education to recently serving in a wide variety of long-term subbing positions, including English and computer classes. However, the majority of her career was spent developing and teaching Health Education classes for the Grand Forks High Schools.  Thousands of students learned about living healthier lives and becoming better versions of themselves with Tootsie.  She taught by example, and she was never afraid to tackle difficult questions.  Her students were safe and cared for in her classroom.  They knew she was their biggest cheerleader and helping hand.  Tootsie, having earned her Master of Education degree from the University of St. Thomas, also served as an educator for her fellow staff members and the community, providing professional development and training for HIV workshops, CPR training, UND classes, and parental education opportunities.  She was a Grand Forks Public Schools Hall of Fame Teacher and truly one of a kind.

The only people she loved more than her students were her family.  Her sons – Tony, Andy, and Joey – brought Gino and Tootsie so much joy.  Tootsie was an amazing mom.  Juggling her career, the boys' schedules, and Gino's career, she made it look easy with a smile on her face and endless enthusiasm.  She read stories and made marble brownies and sugo.  She laced skates and did laundry and helped with homework.  She packed up the boys and took everyone to the lake for weekends of skiing and mowing and fishing.  She listened and loved and offered guidance – not just to her boys, but to all of their friends as well.  She loved them all, and they loved her.

Tootsie became "Grandma Tootsie" in 2002, and Nico, Mario, Gianna, Megan, Sergio, Adriana, and Vinny were her pride and joy.  She took all the skills she had honed as a mother and teacher and somehow improved on them again.  Tootsie became the grandmother that would bake cookies, read stories, then kiss her grandchildren, then share her words of wisdom, followed by "Grandma loves you!"  She took them for ice cream and helped them finish every last bite.  Tootsie took her grandchildren for walks and paddle boat rides, always willing to answer every question, no matter how many they might have.  She loved her grandchildren deeply, and they loved her just as much.

Tootsie had a heart of gold. When you were with her, you knew that you were the most important person in her world.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Tootsie is survived by her husband, Gino; children, Tony (Krista), Andy (Kim), and Joey (Amanda); grandchildren, Nico, Mario, Gianna, Megan, Sergio, Adriana, and Vincent; sisters, Gayle (Jerome) Birkeland, and Maureen (Ordean) Jacobson; a brother, Tom (JoyAnn) Nelson; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Don (Cathy) Nelson, and Gary Nelson; and her sister, Sandra "Jo" (Jim) Dunn.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 26, 2022, in United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, ND.
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday with a 6:00 p.m. prayer service in United Lutheran Church.  Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service in the church on Saturday.
Burial: In the spring, at Memorial Park North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.

Memorials: the family prefers memorials be given to the Gino and Tootsie Gasparini Athletics Scholarship Endowment at UND.

To view the livestream Funeral Service, please go to https://www.facebook.com/unitedgf