Franklin County community mourns loss of Hansell leader, Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Harper

Between a tireless dedication to his community and his ability to connect with almost anyone, Jason Harper was the quintessential small-town Iowa figure.

Harper, 53, who died on Sunday, June 7, served as the Mayor of Hansell, sat on the Hansell City Council and worked on the Hansell Volunteer Fire Department and eventually became the Emergency Management Coordinator for Franklin County.

“That man was always looking over the town of Hansell,” said Jason Van Wert, who has served on the Hansell Volunteer Fire Department for the last 14 years. “He did a really good job keeping the peace and keeping everyone happy in this rural Iowa community.”

“He’s touched Hansell in so many ways,” added Jess Harlan, who serves on the department. “He always stuck up for the town.”

Harper’s approach to leadership wasn’t loud or demonstrative, but was always apparent. Current Hansell Fire Chief Mike Norman, who joined the department nearly 18 years ago, said that Harper calmly and effective pointed fellow firefighters in the correct direction. Whether it be on the scene of an emergency or how to keep up with regulations, Harper had the answers and was able to convey them in a way all could comprehend.

“He always kept us up with current things and was always able to tell us where we should be going,” he said. “He was always calm about everything, which is the best thing in the world, and helped everyone else take a breath and see what the picture is and what we were trying to do.”

Norman added that because of Harper’s leadership and direction, the department was able to keep up with the proper certification and training in order to make sure firefighters were ready and able to serve no matter the situation.

“He wanted to make sure everyone was getting the tools and training they needed,” he said. “Coming from a small town fire department, he always wanted to make sure we had what we needed to do our jobs.”

His even keeled demeanor coupled with an impressive knowledge for emergency management eventually led him to the Franklin County Emergency Management Coordinator position, which he assumed last summer. Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd said Harper’s dedication to emergency management was apparent immediately, as he completed hours of training and certification in a short amount of time in order to be reader to serve as soon as possible.

“He had gotten upwards of three years of training done in his first year,” Dodd said. “There was a lot to learn and he picked it up quick.”

His ambition translated well into the coordinator position and that ability he had to have an answer for every question carried over from his leadership in Hansell to the county spot.

“He was a good guy to have around because everything was laid back, but well thought out and methodical,” Dodd said. “He could read something once and immediately remembered it.”

The news of Harper’s passing sent a sense of grief and shock throughout Hansell and Franklin County. Up until his death, Harper had continued to dedicate his time to the community. Dodd recalls having conversations with Harper regarding the end of the year budget just the Friday before and staying late to plan the upcoming week.

“It came as a huge shock because Friday leaving work, we were the last two there, we talked for 45 minutes about the week ahead and year end budget stuff,” he said. “I was shocked to hear that.”

“I really couldn’t believe it,” added Harlan. I saw him on Sunday morning, waved at him and had visited with him Saturday. He was just taken so fast and so unexpectedly.”

For Harlan, Van Wert and so many others who grew up in Hansell, Harper wasn’t just a firefighter, he was someone who influenced a portion of their childhoods.

“He taught me how to drive a stick shift when I was nine,” recalled Harlan.

“”Everyone says he was like another dad or a family member, but there’s a lot of truth to it,” added Van Wert. “There wasn’t anybody who wouldn’t want to sit and have a beer with him and hear the stories he had to tell.”