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Emma Jasper, 94, Edgerton, formerly of Woodstock, died Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton.
Visitation was held Thursday, May 1 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Woodstock Community Church in Woodstock.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 1 at 11 a.m. at Woodstock Community Church with Rev. Carl Gearhart officiating.
Casket bearers were Terri Borman, Kristie Simonsen, Ben Jensen, Natalie Tourtelotte, Ellen Johnson, Jill Davies, Blair Jasper, Blake Jasper, Blaine Jasper and Ian Bradburn.
Interment was in the Woodstock Cemetery.
Emma Marie Jasper was born on December 22, 1930 to Case and Sophie (Verhoef) Veldhuizen, Sr. in Sheldon, Iowa. At a young age, she moved with her family to a farm southwest of Woodstock, Minn. where she was raised. She attended grade school in District 32 and later Pipestone High School in Pipestone, Minn.
On July 15, 1948, she was married to Bernard Jasper at her parents’ home in Woodstock. After their marriage, they farmed in the Woodstock area. While being a farm wife and raising their family, Emma gave piano lessons to several children. In 1970, Emma started selling Avon, where she sold door to door and worked as a team leader, group sales leader and stand-in manager for over 20 years. In 1981, due to Bernard’s health issues, they moved into Woodstock. Emma took on the role of caregiver and made sure Bernard had every opportunity to attend family events, sports, and community and church activities. During that time (1988) they began spending their winters in McAllen, Texas.
Bernard preceded her in death on December 17, 1996. After his death, she continued living in Woodstock and wintering in Texas. In August, 2022, she became a resident of Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minn. She passed away there on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the age of 94.
Music was such a big part of her life. She was a charter member of American Reformed Church which is now the Woodstock Community Church where, starting as a teenager, she served as organist, pianist and youth and adult choir director throughout her lifetime. She continued to direct choir and play for services at McAllen Mobile Park, where she wintered for 33 years. She played her final service Easter Sunday at Edgebrook. Summer months in Woodstock were spent as a cook at New Life Treatment Center and later working at Fort Pipestone for several summers. During her winters in Texas, she volunteered for many years as an organizer and bell ringer for the Salvation Army. She loved to play shuffleboard and won several championships through the years. Emma loved board and card games, but especially Scrabble! She played online with friends at a distance and looked forward to challenging her daughters whenever they visited and took great pride in beating them!! Reading books, fixing jigsaw puzzles, and games on her iPad occupied her days at Edgebrook.
She is lovingly remembered by her four children, Susan Jensen (Brian Livingston) of Slayton, Minn., Betty (Bruce) Johnson of Minneapolis, Minn., Randy (Cindy) Jasper of Pipestone, Minn. and Beverly (JJ) Avila of McAllen, Texas; son-in-law, Will Langstraat; ten grandchildren, Terri Borman, Kristie Simonsen, Ben Jensen, Natalie Tourtelotte, Ellen Johnson, Jill Davies, Blair Jasper, Blake Jasper, Blaine Jasper and Ian Bradburn; ten great-grandchildren, Haley Borman, Mikayla and Keely Simonsen, Alex Breezley, Hayden and Owen Tourtelotte, Odessa and Paul Davies, Briar and Brooklyn Jasper, Olivia and Jameson Bradburn; and seven siblings, Annetta Legler, Tony (Kathy) Veldhuizen, Bob (Marion) Veldhuizen, Sophie (Jerold) Schoolmeester, Millie VanWyke, Julie (Carl) Kreun and Marvin (Rosalyn) Veldhuizen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Jasper; daughters, Marcella Langstraat and Marsha and Dan Wright; grandson, Eric Reichenberger; siblings, John, Albert, Arnold, Bernard, Gert, Casey and Roger.
If you wish to make a donation in her honor, please send to Edgebrook Auxiliary, 505 Trosky Road West, Edgerton, MN 56128.
(Hartquist Funeral Home,
Pipestone Chapel)