SPEAR, William Alfred

The Daily Miner, Kingman, AZ - Published on November 22, 2011 - William Alfred Spear of Lafayette, Colo., passed peacefully at Sunrise Senior Living in Boulder, Colo., on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, surrounded by his loved ones. William was born June 1, 1916, near Wallingford, Iowa, the son of Horace Spear and Katherine Wacht-Spear. He attended country school at High Lake near Wallingford. He was united in marriage on Jan. 18, 1949, to Alice June Haack, the love of his life. They were blessed with 10 children. Bill and Alice farmed in Iowa until 1969 when they purchased a motel in Boulder. After several business adventures, they retired in Lafayette. Dad saw life as an opportunity and left no stone unturned to experience it. He enjoyed taking a risk; obstacles only increased his determination to succeed. We all enjoyed Dad's quick wit and perceptive sense of irony with timely delivery. He was an avid collector and restorer of anything mechanical: cars, steam locomotives, hook and ladder, tractors, car jacks, buggies, puzzles, and any tool of the trade. Mom and Dad met at a dance, and their polka has delighted many audiences throughout the years; who could forget Dad's amusing limp off the floor! Dad enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and family. Our family's pilgrimage to Medugorje and their adventurous trek to Alaska were the highlights of his many travels. He had a legendary memory for songs, poetry, and lifetime stories that kept us all entertained and many times put things in perspective for all generations. Dad believed his many blessings were gifts due to his devotion to the Catholic faith. He is survived by his children: Bonita (William) Vaske of Knoxville, Iowa, Rebecca (Charles) Peters of Wallingford, Iowa, Thomas Spear of Kingman, Mary (Jerome) Luine of Torrance, Calif., Lila (James) Harnan of Firestone, Colo., Joseph Spear of Lafayette, Catherine (Davey) Henze of Lafayette, Rose (Jeff) Croghan of Longmont, Colo., Patrick (Callie) Spear of Erie, Colo., and Matthew (Joanna) Spear of Akron, Colo.; 22 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; and one of his sisters, Dorothy Theesfeld of Estherville, Iowa. He is now reunited with his wife Alice; his parents; his two brothers, Nicholas Spear and Paul Spear; and his four sisters, Katherine Spear, Thelma Theesfeld, Agnes Theesfeld, and Sister Lois Spear, OP. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Marcus Mallick serving as the celebrant. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery. The family received friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at Darrell Howe Mortuary, with a rosary beginning at 6 p.m. To honor Dad's respect for life, donations may be made to Real Choices Pregnancy Care Center, 1275 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026. William and his family are in the care of Darrell Howe Mortuary, 1701 W. South Boulder Road, Lafayette, CO.