John Joseph Spoerl

JOHN J. SPOERL John J. Spoerl, age 86, passed away unexpectedly, Saturday, December 19, 2015 at Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, Florida. He was born on Glenwood Road in Wood County to John G. and Edna C. (Schneider) Spoerl on August 28, 1929. After graduating from Perrysburg High School in 1947, John served our country in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. On July 17, 1951, on a 3 day emergency leave from his imminent deployment to Korea, arranged by then U.S. Congressman Frazier Reams, John was able to come home and marry the love of his life, Phyllis Chamberlain, and she survives. After his honorable discharge, John attended the University of Toledo, College of Business with the hope of starting his own business. When offered the opportunity to start an agency with a little known insurance company in 1955, John accepted the challenge and launched a career that clearly showcased his people and business skills. In 2011, after 56 years of serving his policyholders, John retired from his State Farm Insurance Agency. During those years he was the President of South Toledo Kiwanis, a volunteer with Rescue, Inc, taught catechism and served on church council at Bethel Lutheran Church in Toledo, and spent endless hours boating with his family at their summer cottage at Devil’s Lake, MI. John also served on the Board and as President for the Sun Caper Condominium Association in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. During his life, John enjoyed travel throughout the US and Europe, loving to drive or ride a train. While enjoying retirement, John remained an active member of the Maumee Elks and Zoar Lutheran Church, Perrysburg. He kept his mind sharp with his love to read, playing euchre with family, and playing casino games, especially poker. John will be lovingly remembered and missed by his family, former employees, work associates and friends as a man of unquestionable integrity, a great sense of humor and contagious laugh, and unwavering sense of fairness. In addition to his wife of over 64 years, John is survived by his three daughters, Debbi (Mike) Grimm, Becki (Bob) Ballenger and Tami (Dave) Walbom, all of Perrysburg. He had eight grandchildren; Jeff (Jaclyn) Carr, Adam Carr, Hans (Veronica) Schmidlin, Taylor Ballenger, MD, all of Columbus, Ohio; Liz (Ryan) Wilson, of Bowling Green, OH; Rob (Riley) Walbom of Christiansburg, VA and JD and Thomas Walbom of Perrysburg, and six great-grandchildren, Juliana and Jennon Carr, Cynthia and Adelise Wilson, Rowan and Rory Walbom; sisters, Maxine Gilley and Donna (Gene) Schwind and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Friends will be received Sunday, December 27, 2015 from 1-7 P.M. at Witlzer-Shank Funeral Home, 222 E. South Boundary Street, Perrysburg (419-874-3133) Visitation will continue Monday, December 28, 2015 at 10 A.M. at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Ave, Perrysburg with a funeral service beginning at 11 A.M. with Pastor Timothy P. Philabaum, officiating. Burial will follow in Fort Meigs Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Zoar Lutheran Church or Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice, 27200 Imperial Pkwy, Bonita Springs, FL, 34135.