Dr. Anthony Craig Jaspers

Anthony quietly left us on the morning of Sunday, January 15 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary, and his children, Christine in St. Paul, Jeremy in Mankato, Fr. Andrew in St. Paul, and his granddaughters, Emilia, Claire, & Lucienne.  He was the son of Jerome and Inez, and younger brother to Annika Jaspers. We pray that he will join his son, Luke, in paradise.   Born and raised in Shakopee, he enjoyed his education at Benilde High School, Marquette University and the University of Minnesota Medical School.   At Benilde, he was valedictorian of his class. At Marquette he was a member of Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity and graduated magna cum laude.   As a family physician for 40 years, he brought Christ the healer to countless people in rural Minnesota. He served for years as a delegate to the American Medical Association, and was named Minnesota Family Physician of the Year in 1998. He served his community as a member of the Lake Crystal City Council, and founding benefactor of the Lake Crystal Recreation Center.  He was a trustee of Holy Family Catholic Church and served in many groups there.   Anthony was a brilliant and trusted physician to many in his medical career, but it was his leadership by example, always in service of others, that earned the respect of all who knew him.  He was a person on which good communities are built.  He will be missed by the family, friends, and the communities that he served so selflessly.   Visitation will be held from 4-7pm, Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the Lake Crystal Mortuary (648 S. Main Street, Lake Crystal, MN 56055) with a prayer service at 6:45pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 11am, Thursday, January 19, 2017 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church (423 W. 7th St, Mankato, MN 56001) with visitation one hour prior.  A reception will follow Mass, and burial will take place at Holy Family Cemetery in Lake Crystal. Please share a memory of Anthony with his family online at www.mankatomortuary.com.   Donations in memory of Anthony are suggested to Holy Family Catholic Church (www.sjwhf.org) or the Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center (www.lcarc.com).