Denny roomed next door to me in my Freshman year at ND. I remember him for his wit and his friendly and happy attitude. Always had a smile.

My sincere condolences 



I remember you and Dennis, Barb, from when Al and Dennis taught at Cherokee.  And now your boys and mine work together...or at least Bill and John.   I’m so sorry to hear about Dennis.  Al passed in January of this year from Alzheimer’s.   
I hope you will have peace and love with your family with memories of Dennis.
Take care...
Fran Jolliffe


God bless you through your sorrow. Remembering when Barb and Denny set up blind dates for Darlene and me, when they were at Notre Dame. My date was Nurmi Ingram... a very nice man.  Other memories go back to St. Mary’s...  a miracle really. How does a St. Mary’s Basketball team win a Class B State championship without having a school basketball court? Coaches! Teams! Standards!  Denny carried those standards forward for future generations through his teaching and his coaching.  Lucky world.  Denny’s sister Rita was in my brother Jim’s class at St. Mary’s and Regina- another family role model.  A blessed family.

 Mr.  Walljasper was one of my favorite teachers- he gave me a real appreciation for speaking the  native language of the countries I would visit as an adult .  I offer my prayers for him and his family. 

Señor Walljasper had a lot of guts.  He took a busload of us to Mexico in 1974.  We didn't always behave well but he always kept his cool.  

Dennis and I grew up just a couple of blocks from each other, on Church Street, in Iowa City. On a number of occasions, as I would be passing his house, Dennis would yell out to me, and I would go up on his porch and we would walk to Saint Mary's School. I always appreciated Dennis' friendship. May he rest in peace with Almighty God, Mary, and all the saints forever.
Prayerfully,
Francis Richard Lalor
Ph.D.
Iowa City

Good friend, married to another best friend.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.

Joe Klein

To Barb ,Tim, Gary, Bill and Phil----
We wish to express our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to you and your loved ones also.
From former neighbors-----
Sue, Warren and Mark Wolken

Sorry to learn of Mr. W's death.
He was one of those memorable teachers who change a life.
My daughter Meredith (MHS '58) was in his Spanish classes.  
A flame kindled blossomed into her Master's degree (UNI) in Spanish.

Ave atque vale (Latin).

Sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Walljasper. He was a great teacher and true supporter of all Marshalltown students. He had an impact on my life as a future educator.  Prayers to all the Walljasper family.

Jeff Abbe

I still think often of Mr. Walljasper, my Spanish teacher. He had a great sense of humor and made learning enjoyable. My condolences to his family and friends and may he Rest In Peace and bring smiles and laughter to heaven. 

 Mr. Walljasper was my junior high Spanish teacher way back when and he was great - one of those teachers that made a big impression on me.   I’d run into him periodically over the years and he always remembered me and my family.  I’m very sorry for your loss. 

Mr. Walljasper was one of my inspirations growing up in Marshalltown. I became a teacher and just finished my 26th year as a Head Softball coach. I even became pretty good at speaking Spanish. Condolences to the family. Via con dios mi amigo! 

So sorry to hear of his passing.   He was one of my favorite teachers at MHS.  I will never forget our trip to Spain.  Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.  

Fondly,

Ginny Ryden Malloy 

Oh Senor Walljasper, he was one of the best teachers. I had him for three years of Spanish and I believe since I continue to remember a lot of what I learned in his class he truly knew how to teach. He knew how to balance having fun in class with getting serious about learning. For those that were in Spanish club. "Como ahora vaca morron" (appologize for not being able to put in correct Spanish accents).

Mr. Walljasper was my Spanish teacher at Anson Middle School in the early 1970's.  He engaged his students with humor and solid language acquisition activities; I thought of him often during my own teaching years in an ELL classroom. I still remember some of the early Spanish phrases we learned while watching short movie clips: "Iman! Iman! Donde esta Iman? Aqui biene, Iman." (Excuse my lack of correct Spanish punctuation marks here.) He also had very strong opinions on the dress code change that allowed girls to wear slacks to school and made us giggle.  He was a dear, dear teacher.
Julie Logan
Des Moines, Iowa

My sincerest condolences to the family. May he rest peacefully in the presence of God.

Dear Walljasper family, 

I'm so sorry to hear of Sr. Walljasper's passing. I have often thought of him and tried many times to find him on Facebook to see how he was doing but somehow could never track him down.  Señor  was one of my favorite teachers...he was one of those teachers who really cared about you as a person not just a Spanish student. I remember he gave out 'pesos' for participation but he accommodated students who didn't like to speak in front of the whole class by also giving out 'pesos' if you talked to him in Spanish in the hallway. As a teacher now, I've always remembered that and try to make similar allowances for my own students.  And of course I'll never forget our trip to Spain together in 1988. So sorry for your loss.  Señor was beloved by many.
in sympathy, 
Karen Haslett

Sr. Walljasper was a patient, kind and fun teacher. Whether playing cards-pepper in Spanish- or taking the class to play fast-pitch softball (so he could pitch to and rub it in the baseball players), he was finding creative ways to reach students. Truthfully I thought of him last week while having our kids play UNO only using Spanish. He made an impact in subtle and special ways at MHS, and need more teachers like him. Praying his family finds peace, comfort and joy in celebrating the legacy he leaves. 

Mr. Walljasper was one of my very favorite teachers in high school. I missed a week of school while taking his Spanish class and when I asked him for the assignments I would miss over the week he refused to give them to me so I wouldn’t do them over my vacation. Instead he asked me to sit down and tell him about my vacation, but in Spanish of course. We met once a day for a week and it was very difficult for just a second year student. But we had a good time talking and laughing and learning.   It was so challenging and it is one of my favorite lessons from high school. 

I’m sorry for the loss of Mr. Walljasper and I’m thankful to have been taught by him. 


I have a funny story about Mr Walljasper.  Early on in high school, he told me that I need to ask him one thing every time I see him.  For those of you that don’t know, I took Russian in HS.  He was the Spanish teacher.  Anyway, he told me to ask him “¿por qué eres tan feo?” everyday I saw him.   I asked him what it meant and he said he’d tell me on my last day of HS.  Upon my last day of HS, I asked him what is was that I asked him everyday.  He told me and we laughed and laughed.  I still tell people the story and I still laugh.   I never had him in class, but he was still one of my favorites.  I know he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  I hope my little memory will bring a little light and happiness.

OBITUARY

Dennis Joseph Walljasper

February 25, 1939 – August 9, 2019

Ankeny Funeral Home & Crematory

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Past Services

Visitation

Vigil Service

Mass of Christian Burial