Keith Jaspers

The world has lost a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and leader. Keith Arthur Jaspers, age 80, passed away peacefully on November 8th, 2023, surrounded by many of his family members.
Keith, along with his wife Karen, was the founder of the Rainbow Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated tochanging the lives of thousands of Nicaraguans for the better. Throughout his life, he was a successful businessman and an active member of his Church and community. He leaves behind a legacy of service to others, evident by the changes in the quality of life for thousands of individuals. His efforts not only changed and saved lives in the countries in which he did his mission work, but it also invigorated countless church congregations as they connected to mission work in a real and tangible way.
Keith grew up on a farm near St. Ansgar, IA. There he met Karen, his wife and lifelong partner in everything he accomplished. He was married to Karen in 1962, and during their 61 years of marriage they had three children: Kelly, Kari, and Steve. He was a loving grandfather to Brittany, Luke, Carissa, Zachary, Connor, Taylor, Kellen, Brendan, and Ashley, and a great-grandfather to Lewis, August, Jack, and Lee. He took great pride in his family and loved to text, talk, and facetime with them any chance he had. No conversation was complete without him asking about each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was interested in the details of their lives and proud of every accomplishment. Whenever he was asked about his grandchildren, he would always reply by saying "God in His most infinite wisdom chose him to have the most special 9 grandchildren in the whole world!" He was certainly proud of them all and so grateful to have seen them mature into wonderful Christian adults and start families of their own.
Keith was a smart businessman and a hard worker. He led by example with a fierce work ethic that was unmatched.From his early days as National Accounts Sales Manager at Sather Cookie Company in Round Lake, MN he learned how to sell and to manage and motivate others. He was instrumental in helping the small regional cookie and candy packager become a national force in the industry. From there, he applied his experience to his own businesses – purchasing a bowling center, then another, before moving on to own hotels in Branson, MO and St. Louis. As he became successful in business, he was reminded of the teachings of his Christian faith that told him to give back to others.
His faith led him to seek out ways to serve and soon he met Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity, in the early 1980's after reading Fuller's book, "Love in the Mortar Joints." He eventually became a member of Habitat's International Board of Directors, serving alongside former President Jimmy Carter, Christian Speaker & Pastor Tony Campolo and others. During his time on the board, he helped start numerous international housing projects in third world countries. But he thought he could do more.
After his time on the HFH Board, Keith and Karen developed the idea of the Rainbow Network. Rainbow would be a next generation Habitat for Humanity that served needs beyond housing. In addition to housing, Rainbow Network provides educational services in communities that have no publicly run schools, provides Healthcare and public health services to areas that have no doctors and provides an economic lift through the Micro Economic Loan program. Through this network of essential services, Rainbow has changed the lives of thousands of rural Nicaraguans.
Keith believed that his acts of service were an outward expression of his faith. He said people will know we are Christians by our actions. As he said to anyone who would listen: "My Bible shows the words of Jesus in red. I think if the words are in red, you better do it!" One of the passages he referred to as a guiding force in his life was Matthew 25:31-40:
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
In his spare time, Keith enjoyed astronomy, enjoying several trips to star parties in Colorado with family members.He was an avid HAM radio operator and enjoyed conversing through voice and morse code with individuals allaround the globe -94 different countries to be exact – which helped keep his mind sharp and allowed him tomomentarily forget about the pain throughout his body as he battled cancer these past 3 years. He also enjoyed his Lionel Electric Train collection.
Keith will be deeply missed by his family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his Son-in- Law, Jay Wilson (husband of Kari). He is survived by his wife, Karen (Horgen) Jaspers, his daughters Kelly Mann and her husband Brad of Clay Center, KS, Kari Wilson King and her husband, Daniel, of Springfield, MO and his Son, Steve Jaspers and his wife Kara, of Wildwood, MO; 9 grandchildren, Brittany (Mann) Bentley and her husband, Evan, Carissa (Mann) Swanberg, and her husband, Brent, Luke Mann, Zachary Mann and his fiancée, Rachel Boeck, Connor Wilson and his wife, Sara, Taylor Wilson and his wife, Caryn, Kellen Wilson and his wife, Rachel, BrendanJaspers and his wife, Mallory and Ashley Jaspers and her fiancé, Drew Millas; and 4 Great-Grandchildren, Lewis Wilson, August Wilson, Jack Wilson and Lee Wilson.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am Saturday November 25, 2023, at Campbell UnitedMethodist Church 1747 E Republic Road, Springfield, MO 65804.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Rainbow Network, San Cayetano housing project. The Rainbow Network, PO Box 14638 Springfield, MO 65814 or online at www.rainbownetwork.org/donate.