Joseph Jasper

Jasper, Joseph 4/12/1945 - 3/15/2018 Joseph John Jasper, age 72, of Pokegama Lake, MN passed away peacefully on March 15, 2018, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease and cancer. Joe was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, and friend, who never met a stranger. He was born in Grand Rapids, MN, to Kenneth and Sarah Cecilia (Sally) Jasper. The family spent his first years on the Danube location, then moved to Bovey where he met his wife of 50 years, Diane, in middle school and enjoyed many dances at the Bovey Village Hall. Summers were spent spending time with brothers Mike and Tony on Pokegama Lake, playing baseball and playing trumpet in the Bovey city band. A Greenway graduate of 1963, Joe was proud to belong to such a unique class that stuck together and cared for each other through the years, several of whom (aka "the boys of '63") lovingly helped Joe as his health declined and he needed more assistance at the cabin. After graduating from Bemidji State in 1967, Joe married Diane, taught school in Bemidji and served his country in Germany before beginning a long and successful career in sales. His charismatic personality and genuine interest in others gave him the opportunity to make customers into friends across several states as his career led his family from Minnesota to Michigan. Having lived around Minnesota and then in Kalamazoo, Michigan for several years, Joe was blessed to make many lifelong friends in both states. In their retirement, Joe and Diane enjoyed spending winters in Florida, hosting family and friends there. Joe loved spending time with his family, including his six precious grandchildren, at the cabin on Pokegama Lake. He also enjoyed golfing or duck hunting with friends and his faithful lab, Chip, riding his John Deere tractor or tinkering in his garage. More than anything else, Joe loved the Lord and made the most of every opportunity to share his faith with all he encountered and to nurture it in his family through prayer and example. He often shared that he had no greater joy than to know his children and grandchildren were walking with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth & Sally; older brother, Jimmy; in-laws Ingwald & Viola Peterson; brother-in-law, Daniel Peterson. He is survived by his wife, Diane; daughters, Brittany (Adam) Shively, Erica (Andrew) Gant, & Lindsay (Chris) Atkinson; grandchildren, Linnea & Karin Shively, Jasper & Benjamin Gant, Asher & Jesse Atkinson; brothers, Mike (Kathy) Jasper and Tony (Melinda) Jasper. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 20th at 11:30 am at West Cohasset Chapel, 24650 State Hwy 6, Cohasset, MN 55721, with a visitation prior to the service at 10 am and luncheon immediately following at the church. Ps. Joe Franzone will officiate. Burial with military honors will be at Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, MN, at 3:00 pm. Arrangements are with Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.