Earl William Spain

BELLVILLE: Earl William Spain, 74, stepped peacefully into the presence of his Lord at 6:30 p.m. on November 30, 2025, after a courageous five-year battle with chronic lymphoma leukemia and other health challenges. He passed at home, surrounded by his loving family.
Born June 4, 1951, in Portage, Wisconsin, Earl was the son of Harold and Dorothy (Dahlke) Spain. A proud graduate of Montello High School's Class of 1969, he earned the Wisconsin State Farmer Award from the FFA before continuing his education at Madison Area Technical College and later Maranatha Baptist Bible College, where he received his Bachelor's in Theology and Bible.
On July 27, 1974, Earl married the love of his life, Beverly Robinson, at Maranatha Baptist Church in Hayesville, Ohio. Together, they built 51 years of steadfast partnership-years filled with ministry, laughter, service, and the countless hours making memories with his children and grandchildren.
Earl worked for Oscar Meyer in Madison during his college years, but his true passion emerged in ministry and helping others. In 1976, he became youth pastor at Bethel Bible Church in Mansfield, Ohio, touching the lives of countless young people with his humor, sincerity, and steady wisdom. He later worked eight years with Haring Meat Companies and then spent 14 years in building and production maintenance at Therm-O-Disc in Mansfield. In 2000, he joined Motor Coach Industries in Loudonville as a service advisor, where he worked until retirement.
A devoted member of Impact Church (formerly Clear Fork Wesleyan), Earl lived out his faith in practical, everyday ways. One of his greatest joys was founding Trash to Treasure Mission, an outreach that provided clothing and household goods to families in need. He was fond of saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure," but for Earl, the real treasure was always the chance to help someone.
Earl's legacy lives on through his beloved wife, Beverly; his children Benjamin (Riza) Spain of Gambier, Heidi (Larry) Gardner of Fowlerville, Michigan, Katrina (Christopher) Sneed of Warsaw, and Jennette (Israel) Schertz of Circleville. He was the proud grandfather of a beautifully large and lively family: Zachary (Angel), Maia, Jerison, Rowen, Locklin, Sailer, and Nicholas Spain; Arianna Crossman; Larry III, L'Wren, Larsen, Law, and Larkin Gardner; Rebekah, Abigail, Jonathan, Soloman, Gideon, Timothy, Testament, Josiah, and Amethyst Sneed; and Lillian, Elias, Quinton, Violet, and Tansy Schertz. He was blessed with great-grandchildren Wrennie, Scottlin, and Holden Spain.
He is also survived by his siblings Linda (George) Hallam of Weyauwega, Wisconsin; Judy Aulik of Montello, Wisconsin; Ruth (Chuck) Malkowski of Pewaukee, Wisconsin; Jim (Kathy) Spain of Friendship, Wisconsin; and Joe Spain of Montello, Wisconsin.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Nancy Spain.
The Bellville Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the Spain family where a life celebration will be announced in the spring of 2026.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio's Hospice, 2269 Cherry Valley Road Southeast, Newark, Ohio 43055.