David Lawrence Jasper

Published 12:18 am Thursday, January 7, 2016

June 2, 1960-December 8, 2015

Dave Jasper AKA “Big Wave Dave”, “Chopper Dave” or “Jasper” died unexpectedly Tuesday, December 8, 2015, after a brief hospital stay.

Dave was a large spirit, with an even larger heart, who never met a person he didn’t consider to be a potential friend. He also never met a piece of chocolate or cup of coffee that he’d turn down.

He was the third born, into a boisterous family of seven children, to his parents, Donna and Michael Jasper in Davenport, Iowa. He loved all of his siblings, as well as his parents, dearly, and considered his family, and extended family, adopted or befriended, as the upmost important in his life.

He had a huge afro when he met the love of his life, Sharon Murphy, in high school, and they were together for thirty seven happy, incredible years. The happiest day of his life was the day Ariélrose, their daughter, was born in 1994. His role of father was his most cherished and he loved her to the ends of the earth and beyond.

Dave and Sharon moved from Davenport to Colorado, living in Denver and Boulder, where he became an accomplished rock climber, skier and an excellent, and necessary, Volkswagen mechanic for the many they owned over the years. He also began to hone his love of working with wood. He became a master carpenter, specializing in finish carpentry, fireplace mantels and surrounds, inlay design and staircases, which he applied to custom homes he built. In his long career, of contracting he also built airplane hangars, a hotel, medical buildings and everything in between. He had his own contracting company in Boulder, Co., Santa Cruz, Ca., and Bend, OR. His most recent job was working with Christiansen Contracting Company as a Project Manager and Contracting Supervisor. He was loved and respected, by all he worked with, for his integrity and hard work and will be missed for his knowledge, booming voice, gift of gab and command of language, colorful or otherwise.

Moving to Santa Cruz, Ca. in 1985 he took up surfing and could be found at Pleasure Point, at the crack of dawn, watching for big waves, and bs-Ing with friends. He loved the lifestyle of the beach town, so when they moved to Bend, in the winter of ‘92, it was quite a shock to arrive during one of the worst winters. Ariélrose arrived six months later, and their adventure continued in the Northwest.

Dave was a founding member of the Toy Run of Central Oregon and collected toys, food and funds on the many, motorcycle fundraisers he planned.

Dave’s pierced ears and tattoos threw people, until they realized how genuine and kind he was. He hugged and kissed all of his friends and always said he loved them. He believed everyone deserved respect and knew how to put himself in another’s shoes and not judge a book by it’s cover.

One of his favorite roles in life, was when he put on his Santa suit, and became Santa. He was the Bend downtown Santa for 18 years for the tree lighting and listening to children’s wishes for Christmas. He was truly the child whisperer and could calm any crying or timidness.

He flew, and crashed, remote control airplanes, worked the farm and large menagerie, was his daughter’s biggest fan, being the loudest on the sidelines, and watching her grow into an excellent equestrian and trainer.

In 2009, Dave and Sharon were in a serious car accident that changed their lives forever. Dave endured eight surgeries for his many injuries and continued to work in between all of them providing for his family which was very important to him.

Dave leaves behind his wife, Sharon Murphy and daughter, Ariélrose Jasper. His mother, Donna Jasper of Davenport, Iowa. His siblings, Kathy Burke (Randy) Davenport, Stephanie Delleman (Jon) Davenport, Laura Lee Ward (Gino) Mendota Heights, Minnesota, Tom Jasper(Tracy) Davenport, Judy Jasper Otting(Tim) Aurora, Illinois, Margaret Jasper Hicks (Steve) Cave Creek, Arizona. mother-in-law, Nan Reaph Murphy and the whole Murphy clan and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Horses, Chili and Graffiti, dogs, Sailor and Skipper, Cricket the cat and Copper, the rooster.

His father, Michael Jasper, preceded him in death. Also the family dog, Clover.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring in Davenport and one in January in Bend, OR.

All Dave would ask for is to pay it forward and love those we know and those we don’t.

“Excuse me while I kiss the sky…”

Arrangements by Autumn Funerals www.autumnfunerals.net