Remembering Jayson

Jayson Spurr served people locally and nationally.

On Memorial Day Monday he will be remembered for both and much more.

A 1996 Creston High graduate, Spurr, 46, died March 23 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

“I did not see any military in him as a kid,” said his mother Jan. “That is what caught me off guard. There is no military background on either side of the family.” Jayson was the youngest of three boys of Jan and Ronald Spurr. Jayson was born July 29, 1977 in Creston. The three boys were 5 years apart in age.

After graduating from Southwestern Community College with a degree in criminal science, Jan said Jayson planned to join the Air Force.

“That’s what he wanted to do after the years at Southwestern,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what he wanted to do then. That was the avenue he was going to take. We did have a conversation about him joining,”

Jan said he didn’t take long. He got his Southwestern degree in May 1998 and signed up for the Air Force in June. Jayson met his wife Shanna, a Mount Ayr High graduate, at Southwestern.

Jan said her son was planning on joining at the same time as a friend. Unfortunately, Jayson’s enlistment forms were not complete as he could not be with the others. Jayson eventually arrived at boot camp but did not train with the others.

Jayson served for eight years. Jayson’s basic training was in Lackland, Texas. He became part of security within the Air Force. Jan said it is like the equivalent of MPs in the Army.

“He was in Security Forces,” she said.

He was stationed at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Now known as Peterson Space Force Base, it shares runways with the Colorado Springs Airport. Space Base Delta 1, headquartered at Peterson SFB, supports 111 mission partners including North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Space Command, Space Operations Command and the 302nd Airlift Wing (Reserve).

Peterson started out as the Colorado Springs Army Air Base on April 28, 1942, at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, which had been in operation since 1926. The base renamed to Peterson Army Air Base, also known as Peterson Field, Dec. 13, 1942, in honor of the late 1st Lt. Edward J. Peterson.

On July 22, 2020, the 21st Space Wing was reorganized as part of Space Base Delta 1. Peterson AFB was renamed Peterson Space Force Base in July 2021.

“He had some tours of duty in Saudi Arabia,” she said. “He was at other locations, but we never knew and we didn’t know how many.” Considering Jayson’s work with classified, he couldn’t tell his parents all his duties or locations. Jan said he sometimes called from those unknown locations.

“His wife never knew either,” she said.

Jayson was in his third year serving when Sept. 11 occurred. Jan said he was in Colorado Springs at the time it all happened.

“I did think of him,” she said about the tragic day. “We had no idea what was going on.”

Jayson left the Air Force honored for his service earning: Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Accomodation Medal; Global War on Terrorism medal; Global Terrorsim Service medal; Air Force Good Conduct and medal of oak leaf cluster Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom. He was also honored with a quilt of valor before his death.

When Jayson was finished with his Air Force service, another line of duty was waiting and complemented by family.

“His brother Randy had influence on him as he was a deputy in Warren County,” Jan said. “After Jayson got out of the Air Force, he moved to Norwalk and went through the police academy,” she explained.

Jayson started at the Norwalk Police Department in 2008. He stayed as long as his health allowed him. Jayson’s funeral was held in Creston as available law enforcement officers escorted his body back to Norwalk for interment. Brother Rick lives in Atlantic.

Jan encourages other parents of those considering the military to understand they have a child as a young-adult and should be treated as such.

“Be open minded. Go with the flow. You have to accept what they want to do,” she said.