Nellimae “Nella” Jasperse (nee Daane) was born on October 1, 1938 in Oostburg, WI. She died on October 20, 2022 at the age of 84 in Lynchburg, VA. She married Lloyd Jasperse on June 26, 1958, and they enjoyed 60 years of marriage together until his death in 2018. Nella was the mother of three children, Jeffrey, (Lucia) Jasperse of Lynchburg, VA, Steven (Daphne) Jasperse, and Jill (Richard) Poel of Aurora, IL. She had nine grandchildren, Nathan (Essence) Jasperse, Samara (Benjamin) Stovall, Hannah Jasperse, Jeremy (Sarah) Jasperse-Houdek, Brent Jasperse, Kyle Jasperse, Sarah (Andrew) Muzik, Rachel Poel, and Anna Poel, and two great grandchildren, Rebecca and Theodore Muzik. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Wilma Daane, her brother Donald Daane, and her son Steven. She is survived by her brother, Philip Daane.
Nella grew up in Oostburg, Wisconsin, and attended Calvin College for two years before marrying Lloyd and moving to Madison, WI for his studies. In their first six years of marriage, Lloyd and Nella lived in five different states, then lived nine years in Minneapolis, MN; ten years in Colorado Springs, CO; twenty years in Roseville, CA; and twelve years in Temecula, CA before moving near their son Jeff in Thousand Oaks, CA, and then Lynchburg, VA. Nella enjoyed living in these many different places and committed her time in each place to serving her family and her local church.
Nella was a kind and intentional mom, encouraging and supporting her children’s pursuits in word and deed. Memories of her commitment to her children include early morning paper route driving in Minnesota winters, loud and instructional cheering at her sons’ hockey games, and piano accompaniment at her daughter’s school play. As her children grew, Nella returned to the workforce, capably filling various administrative roles. Her longest tenure was with the lobbying firm, Randlett Associates in Sacramento, CA, where she rose from receptionist to a researcher and writer who attended hearings at the state capitol. After her retirement, she used much of her time volunteering with World Renew and Habitat for Humanity, working in the store and on building sites, serving on the family selection committee, and mentoring young families.
Nella was a gifted musician who sang and played the trumpet, piano, and organ. She taught piano lessons in her home when her children were young, and she was a church pianist and organist her whole life. Along with her husband, Lloyd, she sang in various church choirs and community chorales; she also regularly accompanied these and other groups and soloists. She and Lloyd shared a love of classical music, church hymns, and the choral music of John Rutter.
Nella was a talented, dynamic, and capable woman, but was most well-known for her warm cheerfulness, her listening ear, and her generous hospitality. She was gentle, yet deeply committed to and tenacious for causes in which she believed. She was fully devoted to Christ and was a model of His character, spending her life in service to others. In lieu of flowers, Nella’s family would be honored if donations were made to one of her favorite organizations who share the love of Jesus around the world, World Renew or The Luke Society.