John Thomas "Jack" Jasper

SMITHFIELD, UTAH: John Thomas "Jack" Jasper , 77, of Smithfield died at his home on Thursday, November 13,2008 following an extended illness.
He was born in Duluth, Minnesota on April 17, 1931 to Charles Rickard Jasper and Audrey Hyacinthe Paquin Jasper, the second of five children. He came from a closely-knit family where Christian principles were lived. John learned the value of work early in his life during the Great Depression, selling newspapers at the nearby shipyards.
John grew up in the Riverside area of Duluth, and had ,many happy memories of his childhood and youth, swimming, fishing, family picnics and annual vacations with family on the lakes of Minnesota and Wisconsin. This love for family carried through the remainder of his life with his siblings and their families in MN, and in Scottsdale, AZ, during their retirement years.
Following his graduation from Morgan Park High School in 1949, John worked on the ore boats on Lake Superior, and he worked for several years for the Northern Pacific Railroad.
He served in the U.S. 7th Army from 1954-1956, at Fort Sill, OK and in Darmstadt, Germany.
While serving in Europe, he and a close friend were able to travel in Germany, to Paris, France and Madrid, Spain.
John's life changed forever, when he went to Los Angeles in 1957 to work for a "short" time.
There he met Ione Nelson, from Cache Valley, Utah. John and Ione were married in the Logan Utah LDS Temple on October 12, 1960. They moved from Los Angeles to Smithfield in 1962, where they have lived and raised their family. He was employed for 37 years at Logan Manufacturing Company.
One of John's hobbies was bowling, and he participated on teams in L.A. and Logan. He learned carpentry skills from his brother-in-law, and spearheaded an addition to their family home, where he said he really learned hard work, patience and sacrifice. This home has been the center of family gatherings and Holiday parties for many years. His assignment was to make the fudge. He appreciated the beauties of nature and especially enjoyed camping in the mountains with his family.
John felt it a privilege to serve others. He will be remembered for his humble Church service in callings of responsibility and trust, including bishoprics, ward and stake clerks and high council. His favorite service was that of home teacher and supporting missionaries, and he especially looked forward to sharing his home-made fudge with others at Christmastime.

He is survived by his wife, Ione, of Smithfield; sons, David John (Jennifer) of Ogden, Bruce Charles of Smithfield, Steven Dale (Wendy) of Logan, and daughter, Sharon (Ernest "Ernie") Herbert of Syracuse; 8 beloved grandchildren, Michael, Derek, Rachel and Brian Jasper, Stephanie and Jeffrey Herbert, Rebekah and Sarah Triolo, and a new granddaughter due any day; sisters, Rose Marie Larson (Delbert, deceased) of Esko, MN, and Priscilla Violet Khalar (Donovan) of Solon Springs, WI; a sister-in-law, Janet Jasper (Charles Alderic, deceased) ofEsko, MN, and many other close relatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin, whom he dearly loved. He is also survived by three sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law, Alice Nelson (Dale, deceased) of Ogden, Utah, Carole Pattee (Robert, deceased) of Logan, Utah, Elaine Fuhriman (Rex) of Preston, Idaho, and Thomas Geary (Connie, deceased) of Albion, Idaho, and many other Utah and Idaho nephews, nieces and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Donald Richard and Charles Alderic; a sister-in-law, Patricia Jasper; a niece, Terry Lee Jasper; and many other close relatives.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at the Smithfield North Stake Center, 155 West 400 North, Smithfield, Utah.
Friends may visit with family from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday night at the Allen Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan, Utah and from 10:00 until 11 :00 a.m. prior to the services Wednesday at the church. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery.
The family sincerely thanks the many relatives and friends for their support during John's illness, with a special thanks to Dr. Lars Bergeson, the staff of Sunshine Terrace Foundation, and Intermountain Home Care and Hospice for the professional and loving care given to John.