James Jeffery Harper Obituary – Columbia Each day Tribune

Had he survived the mind aneurysm that killed him on November 5, Jeff Harper (57) would have reworked the entire occasion right into a hilarious story of indignity. He was, in any case, a storyteller. And there was nothing he liked extra (coefficient of exaggeration included) than sitting across the eating room desk with family and friends, vodka in hand, 80s rock or Motown within the background, sharing tales—tales about his hooligan years in Poynette, Wisconsin, about taking part in soccer for the Missouri Tigers (on the D line proper subsequent to his brother Robb), concerning the time he had hen sandwiches with the band Kansas or rolled with the Gracies after they introduced Brazilian jiujitsu to the US, or any variety of ridiculous moments along with his sons. He additionally would have hated this obituary as a result of, nicely, he is the topic of it. Jeff by no means wished to attract consideration to himself, and he wouldn’t have wished to trigger his spouse Rachel the ache of getting to put in writing about him within the third particular person. Maintain it brief, he would have stated. To which Rachel would have responded, it is not about you. And that will have been a humorous second.

So let’s get on with the details. James Jeffery Harper was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1966, to Marilyn Jean Hurst and James Alan Harper. After some years in California, the household settled on a farm outdoors of Poynette, Wisconsin, the place Jeff graduated from highschool in 1985. Jeff got here to Mizzou on a soccer scholarship in 1988 and finally graduated with a level in Spanish. He ran Gold’s Gyms in mid Missouri earlier than shifting into enterprise growth, first at Timeline Recruiting, then at Maxim Healthcare, and at last at Endeavor Company with longtime pal Twine Harper (no relation).

Jeff and Rachel married in 1999 and collectively they have been elevating three sons: Michael, Jack, and Charlie. He liked sharing his pursuits and data along with his boys—from jiujitsu to bench urgent to sled dragging to pistol capturing to studying Spanish to studying Marcus Aurelius. He was so rattling pleased with who they have been turning into. To his spouse Rachel, Jeff was the love of her life and the one particular person she may think about having this lengthy dialog with. Frankly, she’s mad as hell that he is not right here to assist her get by way of shedding him. Or go to exhibits on the Fabulous Fox. Or open a rattling jar.

Of the many individuals who reached out, the household would particularly prefer to thank those that have helped Rachel and the boys in latest days: Phil and Denise Orlikowski, Tracy and Jason Martin, Twine Harper and staff at Endeavor Company, Rachel’s colleagues, mates and college students on the College of Missouri Honors Faculty and throughout campus. Jeff is survived by his spouse of twenty-four years Rachel Palencia Harper; their three sons, Michael, Jack and Charlie; mom Marilyn Harper; brother Robb (Monika); in-laws Michael and Elaine Palencia; cats Leonidas and Cleopatra Harper; and plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins. He’s pre-deceased by his father James Alan Harper, brother Jack Harper, and brother-in-law Andrew Palencia. All funeral preparations are personal, however condolences could also be left on-line for the household at www.parkermillard.com. Donations could also be made to Cedar Creek Therapeutic Using Middle.