JASPERS, Ben 1894-1968

JASPERS, BRIGGS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/10/2014 at 15:39:37

Ben Jaspers Passed Away Thursday, Funeral Saturday

Ben Jaspers, well-known and lifelong resident of Steamboat Rock, died Thursday morning at the Presbyterian Home in Ackley, where he had lived the past month. He was 73 years old.

Abraham Berend Harm "Ben" Jaspers was born December 28, 1894 in Clay township, Hardin county, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Jaspers. He graduated from the Steamboat Rock high school and attended business college.

On November 29, 1917, he married Bessie Briggs at Steamboat Rock. The couple farmed northeast of town until moving to Steamboat Rock in 1937, when Mr. Jaspers was named manager of the Hardin County Rural Electric Administration, which he had helped organize in the mid-1930's. He continued as REA manager until 1944, when he was named Executive Vice President of the Farmers Savings Bank in Steamboat Rock. He was involved in real estate and insurance with the bank, retiring from that post in 1954. He continued in the real estate business in later years.

Mr. Jaspers was a charter member and active leader in the Steamboat Rock Presbyterian Church, holding the position of honorary Elder at the time of his death. He formerly served as mayor of Steamboat Rock, as a member of the Hardin County Board of Supervisors on two separate occasions, as a longtime member and secretary of the Steamboat Rock board of education and as a member of the Hardin County Board of Education.

Survivors include Mrs. Jaspers; one son, John Jaspers of Eldora; one daughter, Mrs. Herman (Lois) Primus of Wellsburg; 10 grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Kate deNeui of Wellsburg. He was preceded in death by a son, Alvin, a daughter and son in infancy, 10 brothers and sisters and his parents.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Steamboat Rock, Rev. Kenneth Remer and Rev. Glen A. Jaspers officiated. Mrs. Orville Asher was soloist accompanied by Mrs. George Potgeter, organist. Flower attendants were Kendall Jaspers, Neal Jaspers, Byron Jaspers, Nelson Primus, Grant Primus and Alan Primus. Interment was made in the Steamboat Rock cemetery.

--The Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 14 November 1968, section 2 page 1