John C Spindler Obituary
John Clyde Spindler, 91, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2016. John was a resident at Country Life Assisted Living. John was born on a farm near Mark Center, Ohio on June 23, 1925 to Golden Minnie Knapp Willet and Will John Spindler.
John grew up on a clay-ridge farm near Mark Center, Ohio. He and his family made their way through the Great Depression by taking advantage of the abundance of food raised on the family farm. He loved to hunt in the Wood Lot near the farm. Another of his favorite places was Gordon Crick, where he spent many hours swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter.
John went to a one-room school in a different county for first and second grade, he skipped third grade and went through fourth and ninth at Mark Township Elementary High.
His family moved to Montana in 1941, John fell in love with Montana. He graduated from Gallatin High in Bozeman, Montana in 1943 where he excelled in all sports, but especially in baseball. In that same year, at the age of 17, he joined the Navy. He was assigned to the USS Rodman, a mine sweeper/destroyer. He served gallantly during many battles including the invasion of Europe during D-Day as well as the assault of Okinawa.
After his discharge he returned to Bozeman, Montana in November of 1945. He attended Montana State College and worked in Yellowstone Park during the next summer. It is here where he met the love of his life, Virginia Durlene Kerzenmacher. When Durl attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana, John followed her there, enrolling in Forestry.
On January 24, 1948, John and Durl were married in Butte, Montana. John and Durl then moved back to Bozeman, where he graduated with BS and MS degrees in Fish and Wildlife Management completing his education in 1953.
John started his career as a Fishery Biologist for the Montana Fish and Game department for two years, then as a Water Pollution Control Biologist for the Montana Board of Health in Helena. He accepted in 1968, a position as an Environmental Engineer for the Anaconda Copper Company in Butte. He later transferred to the ARCO (Atlantic Richfield Company) in Denver, CO and Long Beach, CA. John and Durl retired to Las Vegas, NV in 1991. After the untimely death of Durl, John returned to Helena, living at Hunter’s Pointe and later County Life.
Together John and Durl had three children, two boys and a girl. Durl was a stay at home mom and was an artist, enjoying Tole Painting. Durl painted furniture and nick-knacks made by John. John and Durl were active in the Episcopalian Church teaching Sunday school and serving as a Layman. John enjoyed woodworking and golf immensely. John had a wit about him second to none, always cracking jokes.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Durlene Spindler (Kerzenmacher), son, Boyd Mitchell Spindler and daughter, Stacey Durlene Spindler.
He survived by oldest son, Bradley John Walter Spindler, daughter in law, Lori M Spindler (Shannon), grandchildren, Bradley JP Spindler, Brian T Spindler, Shannon E Spindler and Virginia D Spindler, Athena Joss, Chelsea Joss and Dallas Joss, nephews Ron and Scott Butler, niece Connie Walter, well as great grandchildren, Braden, Kaleb and Hayden.
At John’s request, cremation has taken place. Services will be announced at a later date.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Terry W Bass says
Rest in Peace. You were a very good person with high standards. We shared many good moments. I treasured your wit, and your history. A person who served his county. A true gentleman.
Remember to go for “One more beer.”
Tbass