Joe Drennan
Staff WriterValerie Jasmer, 40, the Linwood Township woman who died Saturday, April 17, while on vacation in Guatemala, passed away doing one of the things she loved most. Jasmer lived in three countries, traveled to 14, but touched the lives of many, her husband said this week.
Valerie was born Feb. 13, 1964 in Nampa, ID, to Pete and Margaret George and grew up on her parentís dairy farm. She graduated from Homedale High School.
After high school she attended Idaho State University where she received a bachelors degree in dental hygiene. While at ISU, Valerie caught the eye of her husband Rod.
ìI was going to grad school,î Rod said. ìThe first time I met her it wasnít even in person. She was on the student council and was nominated for homecoming queen. I saw her picture on the geology department wall and for some reason I was drawn to her picture.î
Through a roommate of Rodís and a classmate of Valerieís, the two met, became friends and later started dating. After graduating from ISU Valerie moved to Canada, but she and Rod continued to date.
ìAfter she moved we realized we were destined for each other and we started making plans for a future,î Rod said.
The two married on October 24, 1987. After the wedding the two moved to Australia where they lived for two years.
ìIt was something we wanted to do,î Rod said. ìWe didnít just want to find jobs and climb the corporate ladder, we knew there was plenty of time for that. We packed up six suitcases and extracted all the money we had which wasnít very much and headed down there.î
After living in Australia, the Jasmers traveled Southeast Asia before returning to America and settling in Minnesota where they started their family.
The Jasmers had three children, Alisha, Erica and Peter.
Valerie Jasmer worked as a dental hygienist for Dr. Dan Shannon in Maplewood and was active in the lives of her children whether it was in their schools, with sports, or as a Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts leader, her husband said.
ìShe always just seemed to be on the go,î said Jim Mericle, associate pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Wyoming.
ìHere at the church she was very active. She was a Sunday School teacher, was the vacation Bible school teacher, and the director of childrenís education for two years. Working with kids and youth was her heart from what I saw.î
Valerie and her husband Rod were on vacation in Guatemala with another couple when she died. The Jasmers spent the day hiking Mayan ruins and watched the sunset from atop one of the ruins.
During the night April 17, Valerie passed away.
ìWe had just a great day,í Rod said. ìIt was very nice. We were in Mayan ruins that were several thousand years old.î
Funeral services were Monday, April 26, at St. Paul Lutheran Church where many people turned out to remember the Linwood woman.
ìItís so unbelievable the cards people sent and the writing in the cards,î Rod said. ìThere are 500 or more of them now, some from dental patients I never meet. She was nonjudgmental and just had a way that few people have.î
Valerie is preceded in death by her father Pete George.Ý In addition to her husband and three children, she is survived by her mother, Margaret; siblings Kathy Barton, Diana (Gerald) Webster, Phil (Trish) George, Eileen (Steve) Dalebroux, Judy (Roy) Bowery, Marianne (Robin) Freelong; and father-and-mother-in-law Mel and Ruby Jasmer.
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