Louis F. Jespers

Jespers, Louis F., 87, of Lubbock, Texas, retired CMSgt. of the Air National Guard and former Wichita resident, died in Lubbock on February 12, 2006. He was born January 13, 1919 in Greenwich, CT, to the late Felix Antonius Jespers and Antoinette Johanna Klees, Dutch immigrants. Louis graduated from Port Chester High School in 1938. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served his country with distinction in the South Pacific theatre of WWII as an aircraft mechanic. He married Norma Richards on April 7, 1945 in Norwich, KS, a union that lasted 56 years. He then served for over thirty years in the Air National Guard (Strategic Air Command) at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas, where he was crew chief. In 1968-69, following the Pueblo Incident, he served again with his unit in Korea. Louis retired from the Guard in 1974 and spent his years of retirement building furniture, listening to music he loved, collecting vintage films on video, and carving wood figures of WWI soldiers, men he revered as his heroes. Following his wife's death in October 2001, Louis moved to Lubbock and became a resident of Carillon Senior Living Community. He was generous with his family and friends and will be missed by all those who know and love him. Louis was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Richards Jespers and a daughter, Peggy Lois Jespers. Those left to mourn his passing are 2 sons; Richard Jespers of Lubbock and Victor Jespers of Celina, Texas; one granddaughter, Rachelle Jespers of Wichita, Kansas; one sister, Betty Wuisman-Jespers of Rosmalen, Holland. Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 16, 2006 at White Memorial Chapel in Lubbock, officiated by Ken Horn. Memorials may be sent to Carillon Foundation, 1717 Norfolk, Lubbock, TX 79414. Arrangements are under the personal care of White Funeral Home. To register or send condolences online, please visit www.whitefuneral.com