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Stanley J Walljasper

August 1, 1937 - June 12, 2021

It is with deep sadness that we celebrate the passing of Stanley James Walljasper from this world into the next. Stan, 83, passed away June 12, 2021. He was born August 1, 1937 in Donnellson, IA, to Katherine and Robert Walljasper

A visitation will be held 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at Ankeny Memorial Funeral Home (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.). Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 17, 2021 at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church (510 E. 1st St.). His final resting place will be at Ankeny Memorial Gardens.

Stan is survived by his wife of 30 years, Marcia Walljasper; brother, Terry (Ruth); sisters, Delores and Rita; children, Jim (Gina), Melissa (Mike), Steve (Catherine) and Bob (Daisy); step-children, Debra and Donna (Tom); grandchildren, Matthew (Melissa), Joshua (Kristen), Zachary, Kate, Eileen, Lara, Grace, Pearl, Josie, Tenley and Michael; and great-grandchildren, Jackson and Thalia, with another on the way.  He was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert (Margee) and Dennis (Barb); and brother-in-law, Bob.

Stan had a full life.  After high school, Stan joined the US Navy and became a fighter jet pilot and then a flight instructor stationed in Pensacola. His motto was “I always made it home.”  Later in life, he loved telling stories of flying over fields.  After he was honorably discharged, he went backpacking around Europe for a year, presaging a lifelong love of travel and adventure.  Then went on to University of Iowa, where he achieved a PhD in Mathematics.  While at Iowa, Stan fell in love, married Dixie, and started a family. They had four children, Jim, Missy, Steve, and Robert.  After graduating, the family moved to Pennsylvania where Stan became a professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

From there the family moved to Cedar Falls, IA where Stan taught at the University of Northern Iowa, helping to found the Computer Science department there.  He spent many years there educating students to help our world run.   Then after the children left home and Stan and Dixie parted ways, Stan spent his summers traveling.  He took bicycle trips in Ireland, China, through Colorado, along the Pacific Coast, and Europe. Then he met Marcia and they married in 1991.  Stan retired from teaching computer science, remaining a Professor Emeritus at UNI. The adventures continued when Stan and Marcia moved to Colorado where they spent winters working part-time at a ski resort, skiing, and meeting people, sprinkled with trips around the world with Marcia.  They went to Alaska, back to Europe many times, the Great Wall of China, the Amazon, and the jungles of Thailand among other destinations.

As they slowed down a little, they moved to Ankeny where they could be closer to family.  The trips didn’t stop, though!  River cruises in Europe were a favorite destination.  Stan loved visiting with his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, who knew him as G’pa Stan, Guy, or Grandpa.

He was loved by all and strong in his Catholic faith. He was active at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Church and was a member in the Knights of Columbus.  On hearing of his passing, granddaughters Grace and Pearl waved at the sky to tell Grandpa Stan that they love him. He was true to his motto, he always made it home.

Memorials may be sent to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church to establish a scholarship fund in Stan’s name.