Bruce J. Gasper

Bruce John Gasper was born January 18, 1956, in Aberdeen, Maryland to John Thomas and Anna Mae Gasper. He was the second oldest child and also John and Ann’s second son. His siblings were John Thomas II, Jackie, Paul, Mark, Ann. Bruce was a “military brat” and spent his childhood years moving around the United States and Germany. He graduated valedictorian from MD Collins High School in College Park, Georgia in 1974. He attended the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Geography in 1978. He went on to pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He married Pam Hauck in 1978. Due to a medical condition he was unable to complete pilot training and went on to computer school in Louisiana. After completing school he was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base from 1979 – 1983. His first son, John Helmer was born Aug 29, 1979. He was transferred to Boeing in Seattle Washington in 1983. On April 1, 1984, his daughter, Heatherlyn Elizabeth, was born. In 1987, he transferred to Ramstein, Germany where he was Division Chief of Intelligent Material Support Group. His twins, Andrew Ryan & Michael Alan were born May 9, 1990. He was stationed at Incirlik Air Force Base, Turkey during Desert Storm. After returning home, he was transferred to an AWACS Logistics unit at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He transferred back to Germany, in 1993. In 1995, he retired from the Air Force, and was later divorced from Pam. While job searching in Thailand, in 1998, he met Fai Thee Thong. Fai had a child named Siraprapa who was born on October 27, 1994. Bruce and Fai moved to Germany together that year, where he worked as a government civil servant for the Air Force. In 2000, Bruce and Fai visited Thailand, and were married. On April 12, 2003, Bruce and Fai had a girl name Siritida. The family moved to Tucson, AZ later that year, where he continued working for the Air Force as a government employee. In 2004, his son John was deployed to Iraq with the United States Army. Bruce looked for a job in Iraq as well, and joined John there that summer. He spent his oldest son’s 25th birthday, eating cake and ice cream with John in a dining facility on a military base in Baghdad, Iraq. He came home right before Christmas in 2004, and rejoined his family in Arizona. In 2005 he found another government position, as a program manager with the Army in Heidelberg, Germany. The next year Bruce, Fai, Siraprapa, and Siritida all moved to St. Robert, MO. His career choices led him to Fort Leonard Wood Army Post this time. Here he spent his days as the Lead Analyst for one of the post's many programs. His favorite hobbies included traveling, hiking and climbing beautiful mountains, photography, and fishing. On Thursday April 16, 2009 Bruce passed away in the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, leaving behind his wife and all his children. Bruce will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by his wife, Fai Gasper of the home; father: John Thomas Gasper of Fayetteville, GA; six children: John Helmer Gasper and his wife Andrea of Moore, OK and Heatherlyn Gasper, Andrew Gasper and Michael Gasper, all of Moore, OK, Siraprapa and Siritida Gasper, both of the home; two sisters: Jackie Walker and her husband Dr. Earl Walker of Hickory, NC and Ann Abbott of Hagerstown, MD; two brothers: Paul Gasper and his wife Dixie of Fayetteville, GA and Mark Gasper and his wife Donna of Kennesaw, GA; father-in-law: Phat Thee Thong of Thailand; two grandchildren: Asha and Shylyn; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. The family would like to sincerely thank you for prayers and support during this difficult time. You all have been very helpful, gracious, and caring. Services with military honors were held at 6:00 P.M. Monday, April 20, 2009 in the Memorial Chapels of Waynesville/St. Robert with Chaplain (CPT) Father Paul Halladay officiating. Bruce’s daughter-in-law, Andrea Gasper, sang “Amazing Grace”. Military honors were provided by the United States Air Force of Whiteman Air Force Base of Knob Noster, Missouri. Services were under the direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Bruce Gasper to the Children’s Education Fund and may be left at the funeral home.

Bruce J. Gasper

January 18, 1956 - April 16, 2009