George Harry Spear Bonita Springs, FL
George Harry Spear, 85, of 617 Garden Court, died Wednesday (June 19, 2013) at 11:29 p.m. in Blessing Hospital.
He was born November 5, 1927 in Chica go, IL, the son of Harry G. and Suzanne Strban Spear. On August 25, 1951 he married Charlotte Hansen in St. James Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death on Nov. 2, 2007.
After high school graduation, George served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1953 he graduated from Valparaiso University and worked for U. S. Steel Corporation in Management training until he enrolled in St. Louis College of Mortuary Science. He graduated in 1955 and came to Quincy where he became a partner in the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home in 1962.
In his early years in Quincy, George was actively involved in many Jaycee projects and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1962. He also was very active with the Y.M.C.A. in membership campaigns and building campaigns. He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church where he had served on the church council and was head usher for many years. He was an active member of the Quincy Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary Benefactor, and was a member of the Quincy Country Club. He was a member of Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He had been chairman of the trustees of Quincy Athletic Development Association and was an avid QHS Blue Devil basketball fan, having been a long time member and former chair of the Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament Committee.
George was a former member of the Quincy School Board, the Salvation Army Advisory Board and was the First Chairman of the Salvation Army Home Town Endowment Campaign. He was also a former member of South Side Commercial Club, the Adams County Chapter of the American Cancer Society where he chaired the Crusade in 1962. He was also actively involved with the United Way and served on the Board of Directors. He was on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and was vicepresident of GREDF. In 2004, George and Charlotte received the Mississippi Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, and he was honored by the Girls Scouts in 2010 for community service. If some organization needed funds, George would either give it or get it. His big heart finally gave out.
Dinner out anywhere was the norm for George and Charlotte, whether in Quincy, Chicago, or Bonita Springs, and they dearly loved all of the waiters and waitresses who took such good care of them.
George and Charlotte also enjoyed the winter months in Bonita Springs, FL, where they vacationed, first just for short periods and more recently during November and the three winter months each year. George was a 'Rotary Regular' at the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs (morning), regularly attended services and volunteered folding bulletins at Hope Lutheran Church, and spent countless hours soaking up the warm Florida sunshine on Bonita Beach.
Survivors include three sons, John D. (Lisa) Spear of Bonita Springs, FL, Dr. Robert M. (Jan) Spear of Coronado, CA and Jeffrey G. (Theresa) Spear of Quincy; four grandsons, William A. (Dr. Kristin) Spear of Quincy, Capt. Nicholas J. (Sarah) Spear of Sacramento, CA, Nicholas R. Spear and Matthew G. Spear of Coronado, CA; one step-granddaughter, Jessica Eaton of Chicago, IL; two step-grandsons, Zachary Eaton and Joshua (Casey) Eaton, all of Bonita Springs, FL; two step-great grandchildren, Kylie and Madison Eaton, both of Bonita Springs, FL; three brothers, Clarence (Carol) Spear, John (Sherry) Spear, and Louis Spear, all of LaPorte, IN; two sisters, Anne (Bob) Salay of Cadillac, MI, and Mary Jane (Jim) Goad of Fort Worth, TX; and his special friend, Monica Wickliffe of Bonita Springs, FL.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Capt. William Spear and James Spear; and a sister, Sue Brown.
Services: Monday (July 1, 2013) at 11:00 a.m.St. James Lutheran Church with the Rev. Marlin Rempfer and Rev. Mike Fieberkorn officiating.
Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery.
Visitation: Sunday (June 30, 2013) from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the HansenSpear Funeral Home.
Memorials: The Community Foundation of the Quincy Area
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Rodney & Carol Hoffman
June 25, 2013
Jeff: My condolences to you, your family, and the many people whom your dad touched throughout his life. He was a wonderful man, and I always enjoyed speaking with him whenever I was at the funeral home. Know that I will remember him in my prayers.
Fr. Kurt Hartrich, O.F.M.
St. Peter's Church, Chicago
June 25, 2013
John, It has been many years since I have been involved with your parents but I will never forget either one. They were great people and I know how special you were to them. We are so sorry for your loss.
John & Jeanine Galli
June 24, 2013
John and Lisa, our prayers are with you and your family. We are so sorry for your loss. We are honored to have had the opportunity to know your father, he is a wonderful person and a gentleman. We have gotten used to seeing him here and there at various events and around town, and will miss his smile. God Bless your Dad and your family.
With Sympathy, Don and Kim Thomson and Family
June 24, 2013
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