Jeffrey Tasman

Jeff Tasman was born in Reno, Nevada on November 1, 1960. As the fourth of four boys born to Bulent S. and Dorothy (Barth) Tasman, Jeff spent four of his early years in Istanbul and Izmir, Turkey. Upon returning to the United States in early 1965, Dorothy Tasman and boys resettled in Mansfield, Ohio after living in Chicago, Ill for a short time. Jeffrey could often be found helping his brother, Eric, deliver newspapers for the Mansfield News Journal. Jeff was gifted musically, played the accordion and did musical vocals for the Mansfield Senior High School Choir. After graduation in 1979, Jeff enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. where during this time he married his high school sweetheart, Rischele Conning. They soon had a son named Lance A. Tasman. During his time with the Corp., Jeff was responsible for testing aircraft engines used in military aircraft. On more than one occasion, Jeff found problems typically not detected that probably saves lives of pilots. His tours of duty saw him stationed at Marine Corp. Air Stations located in El Toro, California, Beaufort, South Carolina and even a one year tour of duty in Japan. After completing a distinguished record as a United States Marine, Jeff came back to Mansfield, Ohio and worked for the Mansfield City Fire Department for almost 20 years. In that capacity, he also functioned as an emergency medical technician, a first responder helping trauma victims to stay alive while getting them to the hospital. Jeff was able to save many lives during his tenure with the Mansfield Fire Department and prevented rekindle fires that could often destroy properties after the firemen left a scene. He also took his duties as cook for his fellow firefighters very seriously. Jeff, being the Christian man that he was, elected to take early retirement from the Fire Department to help take care of his mother, Dorothy, who was suffering from the progressive effects of dementia. This took a toll on his health as he was not able to get out as much. On those occasions when Jeff did get out, he could be found repairing the church busses at the People's Baptist Church. The busses had to pass state inspections and Jeff took the job of keeping the busses safe for riding very serious. Jeff was also a driver of the busses that picked up Mansfield inner city youth and transported them to the church on Sundays. Jeff was dedicated to seeing that the children came to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. He regularly spent hours on Saturdays going door to door visiting his "bus route kids" and their parents while sharing Christ and making sure the children could be picked up the next day for church. Jeff often fed the children from his own finances. They enjoyed the candy he would disperse on the rides. Jeff also taught Sunday school at People's Baptist Church. He loved to teach the children about Jesus. His love and generosity was not limited to just the children. In his spare time he could also be found repairing the vehicles of members of the church congregation or showing his brothers how to fix cars. He was never too busy to refuse helping others. Jeff would frequently help others out by giving them money at critical times in their lives. He was a very generous soul both with his family and others. In January 2015 after suffering a ruptured appendix, it was determined that Jeff had prostate cancer and also bone cancer. Determined to fight the disease, Jeff lived the last eight months with his family members in a valiant attempt to overcome the disease that ultimately took him home to be with the Lord he served on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jeff is survived by his mother, Dorothy (Barth) Tasman and father, Bulent S. Tasman and his wife, Meral; son, Lance; brother, Eric (Karen) Tasman; brother, Alan (Judy); nieces, Erica and Sarah; nephews, Matthew and Joshua; and his brother, Servet living in Turkey. Jeff's family however was not limited to just blood family but to every child and adult he helped to become a brother and sister in Christ. Jeff did not die with a big estate but he lived and finished the race richer than any Rockefeller! A memorial service will take place Saturday, November 28th at 10:00 am at People's Baptist Church. Donations in memory of Jeff can be made to the People's Baptist Church, 223 Vanderbilt Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44904.

Jeffrey Tasman

November 1, 1960 - November 12, 2015