Jasper, Merlyn Ray 1940-2017

JASPER, SCHAAP, JACOBS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

Merlyn Ray Jasper was born in Orange City, Iowa on September 21, 1940, to Raymond James Jasper and Elizabeth Eleanor (Schaap) Jasper. He left his mortal flesh on September 26, 2017, in Summerfield, Florida.

He lived most of his life in Orange City, where he attended the Orange City Christian School and Northwestern Academy. He held various jobs, until he established Modern Electric, an air-conditioning, electrical, and plumbing business, serving the Orange City area for nearly forty years.

On October 27, 1962, Merlyn was wedded to Mary Helen (Jacobs) in the First Christian Reformed church, where Merlyn was a baptized member. They later became active members of the Dover Avenue Alliance church in Orange City.

In 1999, Merlyn and Mary moved to the Cleveland, Ohio, area to work as property and maintenance managers for three different apartment and condominium complexes. This move also afforded them the opportunity to be near their children and grandchildren; three of their children had moved to the northern and central Ohio area. In 2012, they retired to a home they had purchased in the Ocala, Florida, area.

In addition to his wife of nearly 55 years, Mary, Merlyn is survived by his four children and their spouses: Taryl and Susan Jasper, Troy and Kelly Jasper, Jessica and Jeffrey Roberts, and Erika and Jacob Garber. Merlyn is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Eryn, Dayna, and Conor Jasper; Angelo Jasper and his wife Natalia; Jaedra, Jaxon, and Jacobus Roberts; and Weston and Lena Garber. He leaves behind one great-granddaughter: Penelope Winter Jasper.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother as well as his sister and her husband, Charlene and Ron Busbee.

Merlyn pursued many interests throughout his life, but undoubtedly the most satisfying outside interest was serving the Dover Avenue Alliance church as a deacon and using his talents as a sound engineer for the church. His talent and knowledge of electrical technology was on display everyday of his life. His gift of knowledge shaped who he was and how he lived. Despite battling numerous diseases for over six decades, Merlyn’s heart desire was always to live a full and abundant life to serve his family, vocation, and church.

The family will hold a small memorial service in Orange City at a future date. Please direct gifts and remembrances to either JDRF (http://www.jdrf.org/donate) or to Hospice of Marion County Florida (http://www.hospiceofmarion.com/donations.html).

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.