Robert Gordon Jasper

Obituary for Robert Gordon Jasper Robert Gordon Jasper, was born and lived in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois for his entire life. He left his worldly life on October 18, 2015 to join his beloved wife, Jean Marjorie Cannon Jasper, of 60 years, who preceded him in death. Robert, the son of Robert Gordon Jasper and Martha Ellen Durham, his three brothers, Harold, David and Paul Jasper, all preceded him. Survivors include his sister, Eleanor Jasper Leech, and his children, Sandra Jean Jasper Drew (David Otis Drew), Leslie Ann Jasper Heberlein (Richard Julius Heberlein), Robin Lynn Jasper Sprague (William Michael Sprague), and Robert James Jasper (Stacy Lynn Bowman), 8 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren plus a special family, the Heckels. Robert was born in his family home at 734 Fulton Avenue on January 25, 1917. He was invited to attend the old Winthrop Harbor Elementary School on College Avenue in January 1921, when he turned four years old because the kindergarten attendance was so low. For high school, he traveled to Waukegan. He was always active in church. He remembered in 1922, the first time he participated at a Winthrop Harbor Methodist church service, he was 5 years old and recited the 23rd Psalm in front of the congregation. He met his beautiful dark-brown-eyed wife, Jean, from Waukegan, at a joint Epworth League meeting in the Winthrop Harbor Church. The candelabras that are still used in the church today were made by his handy work. He served July 1942 through November 1945 in an Army gas treatment medical battalion and was stationed in England, France, Belgium, and Germany. Although his focus was in the medical theater, he was "enlisted" to teach reading and writing to illiterate New York recruits, and he learned to drive extremely large trucks, purposely getting them stuck and then practicing getting them out again. Buying property on Kirkwood Avenue after WWII, he, along with help from other family members, built the family home. By 1948, the young family moved in. He was a hobbyist wood crafter and made many special things for the family including large black walnut wall hanging clocks, multi rare-wood jewelry boxes, and Christmas ornaments. His very first project, as an 18-year-old, was a ping pong table that is still in active use today. Robert was also talented in other hand-made items. He oil painted, hand stitched quilts, and needle pointed. He was a sports enthusiast too for ping pong, tennis, soft ball, golf, bowling, and archery, also making his own arrows. Other hobbies, he enjoyed including researching family genealogy, camping at the favorite place in Door County, Wisconsin, chess, and playing a piano and an accordion. His mother taught him to play the piano which he always enjoyed. Robert had many job experiences: Gravel Plant, screening gravel; Marshall Fields and Company as a hand cutter, cloth cutter, stock clerk, shipping clerk, threader, floorman, spooler, and weaver/lace maker; U.S. Army medical specialist, Johnson Motors, Lake County Supervisor of Assessments, and Jacobs Company, assessor. Being a grandfather was his favorite adventure. "Baumpi" loved playing the piano and having the children sing along with him "I Have a Dear Little Dolly" and "I Have Been Working on the Railroad." He loved their dancing to the polkas he played. Recently, with his great grandchildren, he played card games, tickled and teased them. He will be missed by them all. He always valued his friendships and family members, thereby giving a helping hand if possible. He leaves behind many close friends, the Breckenfelds, the Richardsons, the Smiths, the Paulsens, and his best buddies from Winthrop Harbor Subway, the Beckers and all. Robert had a dry sense of humor and loved to keep his friends on their toes. Therefore, he will be missed by his family and his extended family! Robert's celebration of life service will be held on Friday, November 27, 2015, at 11:30 a.m., at North Prairie United Methodist Church, 5000 9th Street, Zion, IL. Memorial donations to Winthrop Harbor United Methodist Church have been suggested.