Anthony Richard Jansen

Anthony (Tony) Richard Jansen, age 32 of Stafford, Virginia unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 after a long battle with Type 1 diabetes and mental health challenges. Tony was born on September 9, 1991 in Fredericksburg, VA to Christine M. Chapman, and Jonathan P. Jansen, who later divorced in March 1997.

Tony was a bright young child, and with a September birthday, was able to start Kindergarten at the age of 4, within a few days of his 5th birthday. Tony loved school with his favorite classes being art & music. By age 7, Tony’s mother Christine had married her current husband, David M Simpson of Stafford, Virginia, and Tony gained two older siblings, Amanda Simpson (33) and David Simpson, Jr (42) whom he grew to admire and look up to. When he turned 8, Tony decided he wanted to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was baptized in the chapel located at 161 Eustace Rd, in Stafford, Virginia. Tony happily became a Cub Scout after his 8th birthday, and really loved the outdoor camping and fishing trips, archery, swimming, and racing derby cars. Tony’s love of the outdoors only increased as he grew older, and he spent every waking minute he could outside playing or working every day, sometimes even in the rain.

In middle school, Tony joined the band where he played the trumpet in 6th and 7th grade, then switched from music to sports where he went onto play football for the Drew Rams in the 8th grade. Tony’s short time playing the trumpet still gave him a long-time love for music of all kinds, especially jazz and classical. When Tony was 11, he celebrated the birth of his younger brother Ryan, now 22. During the Summer of Tony’s 13th birthday, he suddenly became ill, after which time he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and was insulin dependent from that time forward. Tony’s youngest brother, Nicholas, now 18, was later born 2 days before Tony’s 15th birthday. Tony continued playing team sports through his high school career at Stafford High School, switching from football to wrestling. Tony gained a love for cooking when he was younger, so he enrolled in the culinary arts program and successfully passed all his courses with flying colors, and eventually graduated from Stafford High in 2009.

Tony originally dreamed of opening a restaurant or food truck where he and his best friend, Tim Lively, would be owners and chefs after high school. Though Tony’s restaurant dreams never came to fruition, meeting his dream girl did. Tony met his wonderful wife, Ashley Stephanie Jansen (Jimenez) in 2019 and after a whirlwind romance and courtship, they were engaged April 23, 2020 and married on November 7, 2020 in Nokesville, VA. Tony and Ashley were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Raleigh North Carolina Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on January 30, 2021 along with Mom, Christine and Dad, David Simpson. It was one of Tony’s greatest accomplishments and had a special place in his heart. Not long after their temple marriage, Tony and Ashley gave birth to their only child, daughter Luna Irene Jansen, on February 21, 2023. Tony picked Luna because he would call Ashley his Luna, his moon that would shine in the darkness and she would call him his Sol, her sunshine. Tony always said that the moon is a reflection of the sun so what he reflected to her is what she would shine. Irene is his grandma's Linda’s middle name who meant a lot to him and loved very much and he made sure that after a month of making it official he wanted his daughter to be Irene and son, Jack after his grandpa. Tony absolutely loved his family and loved all his brothers and brother in laws.

Tony's hobbies were hiking, camping, cooking and experimenting with food. He loved cooking for his family and making sure their meals were homemade. He loved caring for others through his talents. He had a green thumb and loved plants and had a part time job with Roy and Grace who currently live in Falls Church and loved them deeply. He did natural landscaping where he loved taking Luna. He learned to love nature and ground himself and feel the grass in between his toes. Along with landscaping he was working on starting his own business in health and wellness and being a stay at home dad. He loved serving others and making sure he always shared his experiences and journey in life and it always touched others.

Tony was predeceased by his grandparents: John Jansen, Jack & Linda Chapman, Carroll & Judith Simpson.

Tony is survived by wife, Ashley, daughter Luna, parents Christine & David Simpson, Jonathan & Karen Jansen, grandparent Bonnie Jansen; siblings, David Jr., Amanda, Ryan, Nicholas; other family members include stepbrother Alex Sullivan & wife Shelley with step-nieces Emma & Anna; Uncle Tim & Aunt Kristy with cousins Josh & Addison; Uncle Marc & Aunt Diana with cousins Skylar & Simon; Aunt Rebecca with cousins Kayla, Jacob, Gabriella, Ethan; Uncle Donald & Aunt Kirsten with cousins Jacob & Tucker, Uncle Allen & Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Larry.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating directly to the family to support Tony’s daughter Luna’s needs now and in the near future.

Lastly, Tony would want everyone to celebrate his life, not mourn his death, so please feel free to wear bright Easter colors instead of all black to his viewing and funeral.