Jay E. Spreng

The world has lost some of its kindness, joy, humor and common sense. Jay Edmund Spreng was born on Thursday, January 30, 1941 to Edmund Otto and Ruth Elizabeth Graham Spreng, at Perrysburg Hospital and died at Hospice of Northwest Ohio on Friday, March 06, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Spreng graduated from Perrysburg High School in 1958, Bowling Green State University in 1966 and Vander Cook College in 1972. He taught in Toledo Public Schools from 1965 and was asked to return to teach at Perrysburg in 1980, where he retired in 1996. Mr. Spreng attributes any and all credit for his work to a wiser group of mentor teachers who preceded him. He served as city-wide music department head while working at Toledo Rogers High School, where he established bands and orchestras of more than 100 players each. He also initiated music courses while working with local universities on teacher training and other area organizations and youth groups. Mr. Spreng began a large string orchestra program at Perrysburg and increased the overall number of students and music groups in the school system. He was a member of the American School Band Directors Association, National School Orchestra Association, along with other professional organizations. He believed that a stronger public school system and national economy would result from a closer association and more equal status among the various discipline already available within the schools, especially as between the arts and sciences. When science and art figure out that they complement each other so well, perhaps theyll make some real progress. He spent his retirement years looking after other family members. He took a great deal of joy in hearing first-hand the old family stories from as early as 1907. Mr. Sprengs hobbies of choice were world and family history. Jay was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Robert C. Kinyoun, Sr. as well as aunts and uncles. His survivors are sisters, Jane Kinyoun of New York State, Nan Larry Bockelman of Idaho, and Linda Spreng of Toledo; nephews, Robert C. Ann Kinyoun, Jr. of New York State, Jeffrey G. Maggie Kinyoun of Georgia, and Bret E Bockelman of Nevada; niece, Amy L. Bockelman of Washington State; grand-nephews, Brian G. Kinyoun of Georgia, Clay P. Kinyoun and Jeffrey C. Kinyoun both of New York State; grand-niece, Emily A Kinyoun of Georgia; aunts, Helen Dunbar, Alice Kille and Mildred Gressler; uncle, Arthur Graham and numerous cousins both near and far. His sisters would like to express their appreciation of Jays marvelous circle of friends, especially the Breakfast Boys and Dick Murphy for their unflagging support, care and love. We are overwhelmingly grateful to extraordinary neighbors, John & Barbara Kornacki and Jim Watson for all their special assistance and kindness; and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their exceptional care of Jay. Visitation from 3-8 PM, Friday, March 13, 2009, at the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St., Maumee, where funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 PM. Interment will follow at Ft. Meigs Cemetery, Perrysburg, Ohio. The family requests consideration of a donation to the Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 East River Road, Perrysburg, and/or a brief Mr. Spreng story sent to his home by friends or former students. www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.