Private family funeral services for Stanley D. Jespersen will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2020, at the Warner Chapel in Spencer. Pastor Mark Wilms will officiate. The services will be livestreamed on the Warner Funeral Home Facebook page.

Honorary bearers are Martin McCoy-Jespersen, Alexei McCoy-Jespersen, Brian Tjossem, Cody Tjossem and Peter Kemp. Military services will be conducted by American Legion Goodwin Post #248, of Royal; American Legion Glen Pedersen Post #1 and V.F.W. Clay County Post #3159, of Spencer. Interment will be in North Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery at Spencer.

Stanley Duane Jespersen, son of Martin and Margaret (Hansen) Jespersen, was born Dec. 7, 1924, at the home of his maternal grandparents in Spencer. He was baptized in the Danish Lutheran church and was raised on his parents’ farm southeast of Royal. He attended country school and graduated from Royal High School in 1942.

Stanley joined the Marine Corps in March 1944, and served until March 1946 with the 6th Marine Division in the battle for Okinawa and taking the surrender of Japanese troops in China. After the war, he returned to farming with his parents. On a visit to the Farm Bureau office in Spencer, he met LaVone Morrow. They were married Feb. 22, 1948, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They began farming and raising a family on a farm south of Royal, then moved in 1957 to the farm they bought northeast of Royal.

Stanley built a successful farming operation with his hard work and good management. He always had time for family, and with LaVone raised three children with generous amounts of love, optimism, hope and faith. The church was an important part of family life. He served on the church council and as Sunday school superintendent, and it allowed Stanley the joy of using his musical talent, singing in the church choir and singing solos at many weddings, wedding anniversaries and funerals.

Civic engagement included Democratic State Convention delegate, Clay County Extension Council, Lincoln Township trustee, poll worker with LaVone on election days, St. Luke board, VFW, America Legion, Spencer Rotary Club and YMCA volunteer. He helped others in so many ways, including taking St. Luke residents for drives and taking people to Omaha, Neb. or Des Moines for medical care or to be with family. Not to be forgotten are his smile, his playfulness and the fun he had with others when the kidding began.

Stanley passed away on Friday, June 26, 2020, at the age of 95. He was preceded in death by LaVone, son Dennis, and grandson, Martin.

Celebrating his life with gratitude are children: David Jespersen (Leila McCoy) and De Ann (Vernon) Tjossem; grandchildren: Alexei McCoy-Jespersen, Jessica (Peter) Kemp, Brian (Heidi) Tjossem and Cody Tjossem; great­grandchildren: William, Mary and Sawyer; and many relatives and friends.