LFR honoring firefighters son who was killed in accident
Posted By: Rachael Miner
rminer@klkntv.com
At just 22 years old Joshua Gasper was an accomplished diver, musician, and had just accepted a job for a construction company in Des Moines, but last week everything changed.
"Joshua was involved in a serious motorcycle accident while returning home from visiting his grandparents at their campsite," said Lincoln Fire and Rescue firefighter and Gasper family Friend Nic Cunningham.
According to the Platte County Sheriff Gasper was struck nearly head on by a mini van near Highway 91 and 490th Street outside Humphry, Nebraska.
The Columbus resident was life flighted to Creighton University Trauma Center in Omaha with life threatening injuries.
Despite receiving more than 70 units of blood over the weekend Gasper suffered a series of strokes and died from his injuries, but his story does not end there.
"Per Joshua’s wishes and the wishes of the family because they are wonderful people was that he be able to help sustain the lives of others by donating his organs to everybody that he was able to," Cunningham said.
His desire to help others is no surprise those who knew Gasper.
His father, George Gasper is a longtime firefighter with Lincoln Fire and Rescue and taught his son the importance of serving others.
"George was very involved with his boys, very civic ally active with them. He made sure all of his children became eagle scouts and were involved with the scouts and just have that social presence to be responsible. Just good people."
LFR is banding together to support George and the entire Gasper family.
A GoFundMe was started and within three days it’s raised nearly $24,000, close to their goal of $30,000.
More than anything, LFR wants Gasper to be remembered for his kind hearted spirit and incredible legacy.
"What a fantastic kid. Very involved, very dialed in, very smart kid, very nice kid. He was just the kind of kid that we all had and hopefully someday my son will be very much like he was."
The Gasper family is asking everyone to donate blood in honor of Joshua.
If you would like to donate to the family you can do so by clicking here.
