Kenneth John Spreitzer

Kenneth John Spreitzer passed away peacefully at his home on December 9. He was born in Ohio in 1931, one of six children of Louis and Cleo — Louie, Eugene (“Pete”), Ken, Mary, Carol and Elmer.

Ken was proud to have served in the US Coast Guard during the Korean War. He had a life-long respect for the military, even wearing vests, hats, or other clothes with insignias of the different branches of the military.

While in the hospital for a football injury, he met a cute nurse named Ruth. They got married and had 5 children: Mike, John, Nancy, Tim, and Ken.

He earned his Master’s Degree at Ohio State. He remained a proud Buckeye, always following the football team’s progress, and loudly playing the marching band’s album early Saturday morning to rouse the family. In 1962 the young family moved to Orange County.  Ken completed his teaching credential and taught high school math in Los Angeles. A few years later, he set his eyes on IBM and computers, feeling it was an industry that would probably grow.  His instincts were good and IBM provided 26 years of rewarding employment.

Ken enjoyed being involved in his local parish, St. Barbara’s in Santa Ana. He was a head usher and devoted many hours removing gum from the concrete. Ken also built the large candle holder for the annual Easter celebration.

This summer he was happy to be fêted as the patriarch at our national Spreitzer family reunion in San Diego.  What a blessing for all of us to have the time together.

Ken considered himself a historian and craftsman.  He said he wants to be remembered for these things and that he loved is wife Ruth, kids, grandkids and great grandkids.  He will also be remembered as a Master model airplane builder.  Ken would invest a month of his time crafting and painting a single plane to perfect.  He is survived by 69 planes hanging from the ceiling in his home.

Ken is survived by his sisters — Carol Dombrowski and Mary Cappy; five children and their spouses — Mike and Christine, John and Jackie, Nancy and Martin Koontz, Tim and Schri, and Ken; seven grandchildren — Eileen, Anna, Laura, Ashley, Sarah, Samantha and Jacob; and two great-grandchildren — Madison and Hudson.

A funeral service will be held on January 4, 2019, 10:00 am at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church (5800 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim, CA 92807).  Following the mass, at 12:45 he will be laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery with military honors.

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