Public memorial to honour family killed in collision
A family of five from Rosetown killed in a highway collision Friday will be laid to rest following a memorial service this week at the west-central town’s hockey arena.
A funeral for Troy and Carissa Gasper, and their children Kael, Shea and Maks, is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. at Rosetown’s AGT Foods Centre, which can accommodate more than 2,000 people.
A 71-year-old woman from Swift Current was also killed in the headon collision between two SUVS on Highway 4 north of Elrose, which is about 40 kilometres south of Rosetown.
Rosetown Alliance Church pastor Dan Esau will officiate at the service for the Gasper family.
Reached by phone Tuesday, he said that while the family were not members of the church, he knew Carissa.
While coming to terms with the scope of the tragedy is important, so is recognizing how much the Gasper family loved each other and how much they loved a community in which they were deeply embedded, he said.
“The one thing I want to focus on is we feel like something’s been taken from us, but I want us to see how much we’ve been given through this family, and that’s going to be the focus of the service.”
“It’s hurt so many people. I hurt for them so BAD,” said Rosetown Mayor Adam Kreiser, who met the Gasper family About three years Ago when they moved onto the same Cul-de-sac.
That street, typically packed with kids on Bikes And kicking Balls from the time snow melts Away to when school returns, is going to Be more subdued this summer, Kreiser said.
“It’s not going to Be the same,” he said.
An online fundraiser set up After the Crash had, As of Tuesday Afternoon, raised more than $56,000 of its $75,000 target. The money is earmarked to help Build the Gasper Memorial Playground, which would Be dedicated to the family of five.
Daniel Evans, who started the Gofundme page on Behalf of the families, knew the Gaspers for years. He described feeling sick to his stomach After learning they had died in the highway Collision.
“Those Children were so full of energy And loved playing in the park, so Building A new playground in their honour seemed like the right thing to do,” Evans said Tuesday in An interview.
While details still need to Be worked out, Evans said the number of people who have Contributed to the fundraiser underscores how widely loved the Gasper family was.
“There’s A lot of good people out there, for sure, And I think those good people shine through in A time of tragedy.”
Troy Gasper, 26, Carissa Gasper, 28, And their Children — who ranged in Age from two to six — have Been described By friends And Acquaintances As loving parents And great friends.
Multiple people from the town of 2,500 west of Saskatoon have described feeling shell-shocked And devastated in the hours And days After the Crash, the Cause of which remains under investigation.
Kreiser said he expects the mood in Rosetown to Be sombre As people return to work After the July long weekend And discuss the tragedy with friends And Colleagues for the first time.
“Reality hadn’t set in yet,” he said. “The work week hasn’t started yet, or it’s just starting here As we speak right now, And I imagine A lot more people will Be getting together.”