Obituaries : Gene Spicer

Gene Spicer

VINTON:

Gene Andrew Spicer passed away January 12, 2016 at Unity Point Hospice in Cedar Rapids.  Gene was born on September 24, 1928 rural Palo to Ivan Spicer and Alta (Comp) Spicer Mitchell.  He went to grade school at Stoney Point Country School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids.  On January 28, 1947 Gene married Betty JoAnn Randall.  They later divorced.  On December 4, 1970, Gene married Kaylene Tumilty McNeal.

Gene worked several different jobs as a “Gandy Dancer”, making pre-form cement steps, shipyard electrician’s helper, ice block delivery, and Dairy Queen owner/operator.  Gene served our Country with the Naval Reserves.  He was a self-taught computer expert and worked several jobs in the computer industry for 30+ years.  He worked for Iowa Manufacturing, Goodyear AeroSpace, Associated Grocers, Idaho National Bank, Merchant’s Bank, and several other smaller companies. 

After “retirement”, Gene kept busy with building a house, plumbing, heating, electrical work, woodworking, making pies, and acting as a consultant to many friends and family members who were working on construction projects.  Gene was also an accomplished guitar player and singer.  He especially enjoyed singing old gospel hymns and Johnny Cash songs.  He entertained many over the years at local churches, care facilities, and campfires.  Gene found his real passion at age 79 when he completed his certification as a lay pastor.  He served 17 churches in the area over the last 8 years, most recently at Central Presbyterian Church in Newhall.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 45 years, Kaylene, 1 daughter Linda (Doug) Fox of , 4 sons Ron (Brenda) Spicer, Dennis (Ariane) Spicer, Todd Spicer, and Scott (Nadine) McNeal; 6 grandchildren John Fox, Veronica (Bill) Hudon, Ivan (April) Spicer, Alex (Joey) Lewis, Steven Spicer, and Jeramey Kies; 6 great-grandchildren; 6 Sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law Thelma Frese, Irene White, Shirley Tumilty, Marlene Tumilty, Louise and Derrol Armstrong, Kirk and Elaine Tumilty and many nieces and nephews and many friends.  To greet him in Heaven are his parents, his step-mother, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, and 4 brothers-in-law, Jack Frese, William “Pete” White, Raymond Tumilty, and Vernon Tumilty.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the Presbyterian Church in Vinton with Rev. Jessica Crane-Munoz officiating.  Visitation also be held at the church from 4 – 8 PM on Friday.  Committal services will be held at 11 AM Monday, January 18, 2016 at Spring Grove Cemetery in Covington.  Condolences may be sent to:  www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Memorials can be directed to Vinton Presbyterian Church, Central Presbyterian Church in Newhall, or First Presbyterian Church in Blairstown.