Wilfred "Willie" John Jaspers, age 92, of Sisseton, formerly of Eden, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2015 at Coteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton, SD. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Eden, SD on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. The Rev. Fr. Albert Cizewski and the Rev. Jerry Ranek will be officiating. Interment will be in St. Michael Cemetery, Eden, SD. Pallbearers will be Mike Jaspers, Ronald Jaspers, Kurt Jaspers, Kevin Jaspers, Valery Jaspers, Jr. and Curtis Samson. Honorary Pallbearers will be all his nieces and nephews. There will be visitation on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at the Cahill Funeral Chapel in Sisseton from 2:00 to 7:00 P.M. with family present beginning at 5:00 P.M. Visitation will also be held on Friday, March 27 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eden from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., with a Prayer and Rosary service to follow at 7:00 P.M.
Wilfred was born on August 22, 1922, at Eden, SD, to Frank, Sr. and Mary (Heimann) Jaspers. He attended Sacred Heart School at Eden for five years, and Eden District No. 4 for three years. He completed one year of high school at Eden Independent School. Wilfred was born and raised on the family farm west of Eden that his father purchased in 1920. He was actively engaged in farming until his retirement. He remained on the home farm nearly all of his life before moving to Edgewood Vista Assisted Living Center in Sisseton in November 2008.
Wilfred was a life-long member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eden and an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus. He served on boards for several community and agriculture-related organizations including the Marshall County Crop Improvement Association, Eden Farmers Elevator and the First National Bank of Eden. He especially enjoyed being a member of the Eden Lions Club before moving to Sisseton.
Wilfred is survived by 26 nieces and nephews: RosaLee (Melvin) Opitz, Lake City, SD; Germaine Rice, Omaha, NE; John (Mary Sue) Jaspers, Eden, SD; Kay (Ken) Goehner, Huron, SD; Sr. Chrishelle Jaspers, Rochester, MN; Joel Jaspers, Sisseton, SD; Elizabeth "Betty" Jaspers, (Eden, SD) Waterloo, IA; Mary (Jim) Balik, Waterloo, IA; Donald (Patsy) Jaspers, Rathdrum, ID; David (RoseMary) Jaspers, Hot Springs, AR; Genevieve Kaluza, St. Paul, MN; Annette Helgerson, St. Paul, MN; Ronald Jaspers, Eden, SD; Kathleen Dean, Webster, SD; Darius (Angela) Jaspers, Battle Lake, MN; Monica (Dale) Wald, Albertville, MN; Karen (Bob) Jaskulka, Watertown, SD; Terry (Sandi) Jaspers, Sisseton, SD; Kevin (Teri) Jaspers, Madison, SD; Joni (Greg) Thomas, Milbank, SD; Julie (Brian) Sampson, Arlington, SD; Gwen Jaspers, Eugene, OR; Carleen Jaspers, Aberdeen, SD; Melanie (Eric) Flom, Dennison, MN; Todd (Lidia) Jaspers, Bolivia; Kurt Jaspers, Golden Valley, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Maria and Anna; 10 brothers, Anthony, Joseph, Mathias, Christian, Frank, Florentius, Ray, Aloysius, Henry and Edwin; four nephews, Valery Sr., James, Jerome, and DuWayne; and two nieces, Sr. Kristin Jaspers, and Marlene Kohlhaas.