Obituary for Gerald Spaeth

Gerald R. Spaeth, age 77, Spencer, passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at House of the Dove, Marshfield.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Spencer, where there will be a gathering for family and friends from 9:00 am until service time. Rev. Barry Saylor will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Town of Eau Pleine, Marathon County. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Gerald was born on September 25, 1946, in Stratford, to Alphonse and Alvina (Knoeck) Spaeth and was a 1964 graduate of Stratford High School.

He married Lorraine A. Nikolai on October 19, 1968, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Marshfield. She died on October 14, 1992. He later married Donna M. Greenwald Cole on June 8, 2002.

Gerald served in the National Guard from 1964 – 1970.  He prided himself on being a hard worker, evident by his 50 years with the Stratford Co-op.  In addition, he kept the family farm going, first raising beef cattle and then milking cows for a number of years. He was an avid sports fan and proudly passed that passion onto his children and grandchildren.  His favorite teams were the Stratford Tigers and Minnesota Twins, but he loved any ballgame and played fast-pitch softball himself until he was 42, stepping off the field to be at the fields where his kids played.  He followed football, was at the infamous IceBowl, always wore his Badger cap, “bowled a few games” in men’s and mixed couples leagues and picked up the golf clubs on occasion.  Aside from sports, his greatest pastimes were a lawn chair, his grill, and his AM radio – static and all.  He enjoyed camping and anything that involved his family.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Spencer, and his children, Kristine (Dan) Luepke, Kurt Spaeth, Kari (Tim) Schoenherr and Kevin Spaeth, all of Stratford, and a stepdaughter, Michelle Cole of Spencer. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Darrin (McKenzie) Luepke, Lorrie Luepke, Drew (Tori) Spaeth, Sadie (fiance – Alex) Spaeth, Brooke Spaeth, Dylan Schoenherr and Dalton Schoenherr, two step grandchildren Kaydence and Danica Plaskey and two great grandchildren, Reese and Emmett Spaeth. He is further survived by a brother, Gilbert (Lois) Spaeth of Marshfield and a sister, Ellen Connor of Rothschild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Lorraine, a sister, Lorraine in infancy, brothers, Harold and Larry Spaeth and a sister, Joanne McCumber.

Memorials may be designated to House of the Dove.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com