John Gasper
John Gasper
August 25, 1935 – April 09, 2011
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Visitation: Will begin at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday morning, April 12, 2011 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be at the funeral chapel from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to greet visitors.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday morning, April 13, 2011 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Pastor Alvern Boetsma of the Good News Chapel officiating.
Interment: Forest Cemetery.
John passed away early Saturday morning at the Mahaska Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa.
John William Gasper, son of John Martin and Mary Durbala Gasper, was born August 25, 1935 at the home of his parents in rural Truax, Iowa. John attended country school until age thirteen and then attended school in Beacon; he briefly attended high school in Westchester and then moved to Washington, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1953. John served in the Army in Fort Sill, Oklahoma from January 28, 1955 to January 28, 1957. Following his discharge he worked for the Rock Island Railroad out of Montezuma as a heavy equipment operator. John’s father died when John was three and his mother passed away when he was thirteen. Throughout his youth and after his return from the service, John lived with his sisters and his brother. While living in Montezuma, John met the love of his life, Judy Shaw at the skating rink in Beacon, Iowa. March 21, 1959, John and Judy were united in marriage and they made their home in Oskaloosa. John worked as a semi driver for five years. He then was a fireman with the Oskaloosa Fire Department for eight years. He then worked as a delivery driver for Lynn’s Poultry for three years. His final employment was with the Oskaloosa Water Department doing meter installation and repair. He was with the water department for 23 years, retiring in 1997. In addition to his employment, John and Judy operated West End Bait & Tackle from 1976 to 2005. John was a member of the Moose Lodge since 1973, a member of the Legion of Moose since 1974 and was Governor of the Moose Lodge in 1977. He was a lifetime member of the NRA. John loved hunting and fishing. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Debra Renee; a brother, Carl Gasper; a sister, Helen Poe Rhinehart and his little dog O.J.
John’s family includes his wife of 52 years, Judy; two sons and their wives: John D. and Michelle Gasper of Burlington, IA and Wade and Heidi Gasper of Oskaloosa; two grandchildren: Max and Kyla; a sister, Leona Glandon of Williamsburg, IA and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Debra Renee; a brother, Carl Gasper; a sister, Helen Poe Rhinehart and his little dog O.J.
Memorials may be made to Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter.
Source: GVL Funeral Chapel
