Obituary

DAVENPORT -- Funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for Michael T. Jasper, a resident of Davenport, will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Catholic Church. Private family burial will be Monday at National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. today at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home. The family invites you to join them for the rosary, which will be offered at 4 p.m. Michael died peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at his residence in Davenport, surrounded by his family following a 13-year battle with various cancers. Michael Thomas Jasper was born Sept. 28, 1935, in Davenport, a son of Lawrence F. and M. Esteline (Haney) Jasper. He was united in marriage to Donna Bellafiore on Sept. 3, 1956, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. Mike attended the former St. Ambrose Academy and graduated from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1960. He then attended University of Iowa Department of Physical Therapy, graduating in 1962. He retired in 1998 after a career as a Physical Therapist. He was a Department Head at Moline Lutheran Hospital from 1962 to 1987. He then worked as a PT at Loren Arp Physical Therapy until his retirement. His family was the most important thing in his life. He was tremendously proud of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed sports of all kinds, especially playing golf with his special buddies. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Donna; children and their spouses, Kathy and Randy Burke, Davenport, Stephanie and Jon Delleman, Bettendorf, David and Sharon Jasper, Bend, Ore., Laura and Gino Ward, Louisville, Colo., Tommy and Tracy Jasper, Davenport, Judy and Tim Otting, Aurora, Ill., and Margaret Jasper, Denver, Colo.; 14 grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Joseph Kosary, Tyler, Texas; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lawrence H. and Ruthellen Jasper, Miami, Fla., and Dr. David and Irene Jasper, Omaha, Neb.; his mother-in-law, Lucille Bellafiore, Davenport; the Huynh Family from Vietnam, whom Michael and Donna "adopted," of Davenport; and his special companion, his faithful dog, Gabby Ward Jasper. He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Vincent Bellafiore.
(Quad-City Times, November 7, 2003)