Jack Spencer

MIDDLEVILLE, MI - Jack Spencer, of Middleville, passed away on January 31, 2026 at age 103. He was at home in Middleville with several of his family present when he died of old age and natural causes.

He was born at home in Detroit, MI, on September 30, 1922. His parents were Samuel J. and Lulu Collier Spencer. He had a brother, Marshall, and a sister, Marguerite, both of whom preceded him in death; his former wife, Geraldine Lucille (Gerry) Spencer (née Bates), to whom he had been married for 57 years, also preceded him in death in April, 2000.

He attended Detroit schools, including Cass Technical High School. After graduation from high school, he attended Wayne University beginning in September, 1940. On October 9, 1942, he married his ninth-grade sweetheart, Gerry Bates, and in the same week he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was trained as a pilot and completed 25 missions with the 15th Air Force in Europe.

Their children are Carol Lynne, born June 10, 1945; David Irwin, born April 24, 1947; John Raymond, born July 14, 1950; and Paul Douglas, born April 26, 1954. Carol was born five weeks prior to Jack arriving home from Italy after the war ended in Europe.

Besides Pat, he leaves behind his four children, Carol, David, John, and Paul; stepsons, Michael Bowman and Alan Bowman; and stepdaughter Laura Bowman. He has 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and (3) great-great-grandchildren.

Yes, these are the facts, Jack wrote his obituary over 3 years ago. He was never one to brag about himself. However, he was so much more. Jack was the patriarch of the family, last of his generation. He was born at home, delivered by a woman physician who made house calls. She had delivered his brother and sister 15 and 17 years before and later 3 of his children.

Jack's wife, Gerry, was able to follow him during much of his training, rent a room, and find employment. After the war he was in the reserves, resigning in 1955 as Captain.

Initially, Jack and Gerry bought a small home in Detroit. They then moved with 3 kids to 12½ acres west of Pontiac to a Cape Cod style house he built from a kit. Jack and Gerry became involved with the local school and church. Then on to a bigger farm, then a bigger farm, and on to an even bigger farm in Middleville near friends Laurel and Fred Rock.

Jack was deeply involved with his community wherever he lived - a United Presbyterian elder, Sunday School superintendent at 3 churches, PTA, school board member, a member of Farm Bureau, Organic Gardening Club, Heritage Association, Rotary over 40 years, Thornapple Township Planning Commission, Thornapple Township Board of Review and Zoning Administrator and Ordinance Enforcement Officer. He was also a realtor with Westdale Real Estate in Grand Rapids, where he became friends with Lee Shumway.

Jack's strong work ethic and attention to detail were evident in all he did. His interests were diverse. A people person, he enjoyed conversation. In 2014, he was Middleville Rotary "Hometown Hero." When considering Jack for the award, Don Boysen wrote "Although he holds the title of our most senior member, he always contributes to any Rotary sponsored program or project. At times when we tend to stray from our Rotarian Creed of Service Above Self, it is Jack that reminds us of our reason for being Rotarians." He also received the Paul Harris Award from Rotary International.

Jack's wife, Gerry, died April 21, 2000. He was devastated. They had been married 57 years. He had met Pat Bowman and her husband at a church meeting that summer soon after her husband died, and Jack encouraged Pat to attend grief counseling with him. Jack and Pat were married March 3, 2001. When he died, they were 1 month short of 25 years together.

In Jack's memoir, he wrote printing became an interest when he was 10 years old after he visited a friend and saw the printing setup the father had as a business in the basement.

When Jack was 11 years old, his parents took him in a Model T Ford to the Detroit City Dog Pound with many large pens. He remembers being overwhelmed and proposed when he grew up and could buy a farm, he'd take all the dogs so they could roam free. A few months later they bought a Boston Terrier named "Bebe," housebroken, whose owners were unable to keep her. She was a constant companion, learned many tricks, slept at his feet under the covers although she had her own wicker basket.

At 12, Jack begged his mother for a desk and chair on casters that rotated. As she was good at searching the Detroit News Want Ads, she found them, and then an upright, used Underwood typewriter for $10. He had for many years.

Jack wrote, "This gave me a good place and reason to do homework, but I seemed to enjoy keeping records or notes, marking the calendar; it seemed natural to me, similar to my desire for printing activity."

Jack's wife, Gerry, was interested in genealogy. He continued her research, devoting much time searching on the internet, organizing both their family trees.

Jack was a farmer at heart. At 65 years old he wrote in his memoirs, after being away from active farming for several years, "I was very happy to work the fields with the John Deere diesel 4020 tractor pulling an offset disc or a 16-foot double disc. I still have my life desire to till the soil and produce a product."

Jack was the most disciplined person. After moving to the condo at 86 years, he continued exercising every morning that it was safe, even getting ice grippers for his shoes. He also did exercises including push-ups for many years. At 86 years he had knee replacement surgery, very serious about therapy - he did very well.

At 93, Jack and Carol went on the Talons Out Honor Flight to see the Washington, D.C. memorials to servicemen and women. He walked it all, with Carol trying to keep up, two steps behind and to his right; he said she was a good attaché.

At 95 and 97 years, Jack went canoeing on Thornapple River with kids and grandkids.

For many years Jack had breakfast, walked, then worked in his study on his computer listening to beautiful classical music until lunch, then naps in his recliner. After that he watched MSNBC and other news programs to keep up to date. At 8:00 pm he played solitaire on his computer till bed at 9:00 pm - DON'T call after 8:45 pm.

Saturday evenings he and Pat watched Lawrence Welk. Sundays he liked animal programs, then various news programs.

Now Jack leaves a legacy. He lives on through his loved ones and friends. He now has 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends may meet with Jack's family on Friday, February 13 from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Beeler Gores Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 14 at 11 AM at the Middleville United Methodist Church, and burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Middleville Rotary Scholarship Program or Middleville UMC Sunday School Program.