Lloyd Earl Spoonholtz
October 31st, 1939 - September 29th, 2024
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Lloyd's Obituary
Lloyd Earl Spoonholtz, 84 of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully at home on September 29, 2024.
Born on October 31, 1939 in Des Moines, Iowa to Willie and Ila Spoonholtz, dad was one of eight children and learned the value of hard work on the family farm which he passed on to each of us kids.
Shortly after graduating high school, dad enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from 1959 until his honorable discharge in 1963. It was while stationed at Tinker that he was talked into going on a blind date with a woman who “made the best chocolate cake.” That woman would become his wife of 60-years and his primary caretaker until the end, Mary Alice (Preston) of Eau Claire, Michigan.
Lloyd had a magical talent of turning a simple yes or no question into an hours’ long story with some life lesson he learned along the way. Those stories included ones of life growing up in Iowa, his time in the Air Force, adjusting to life in Michigan, and hitchhiking between Tinker AFB, Des Moines, up to Michigan and back before settling down in Eau Claire. Once here he began working at Whirlpool Corporation as a general laborer at the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph plants until his retirement in 1999. When not at the plant he learned multiple trades from his father-in-law Cecil, continued his farming roots helping on the Preston family farm and becoming very familiar with their motto of many hands make light work. In addition he coached our baseball, football, soccer, softball, and wrestling teams.
He loved to golf, especially at his home course Pipestone Creek, cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears, anyone playing USC or Notre Dame, followed various NASCAR drivers, and was a proud American Legion member for 32 years.
Surviving are his wife Mary; sons Todd of Dowagiac; Mark (Teresa) of Mills River, North Carolina; Scott of Watervliet; daughter Sarah of Eau Claire; grandchildren Tyler, Ryleigh, and Madison Spoonholtz of Mills River, North Carolina; brother-in-law Edward Hicks of Eau Claire, siblings Joy Reinert, Helen Spoonholtz, and Richard “Dick” Spoonholtz all of Iowa; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents Willie and Ila Spoonholtz; in-laws Cecil and Alice (Sells) Preston; siblings and in-laws Mary Louise (Leroy) Vertz, Opal (Gaylord) Munyon, Jay (Georgia) Spoonhaltz, and Carol Jean Goddard; sister-in-law Donna Hicks; and brother-in-law Wilbert Reinert, Jr. We, the family, would like to thank the care team at Caring Circle - Hospice at Home, family friends Carla Gray Weiser, and Judy McGowan, and all the friends and extended family for the support and care of the last few weeks.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services.
Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Animal Services, CS Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan, or any local American Legion. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Born on October 31, 1939 in Des Moines, Iowa to Willie and Ila Spoonholtz, dad was one of eight children and learned the value of hard work on the family farm which he passed on to each of us kids.
Shortly after graduating high school, dad enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from 1959 until his honorable discharge in 1963. It was while stationed at Tinker that he was talked into going on a blind date with a woman who “made the best chocolate cake.” That woman would become his wife of 60-years and his primary caretaker until the end, Mary Alice (Preston) of Eau Claire, Michigan.
Lloyd had a magical talent of turning a simple yes or no question into an hours’ long story with some life lesson he learned along the way. Those stories included ones of life growing up in Iowa, his time in the Air Force, adjusting to life in Michigan, and hitchhiking between Tinker AFB, Des Moines, up to Michigan and back before settling down in Eau Claire. Once here he began working at Whirlpool Corporation as a general laborer at the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph plants until his retirement in 1999. When not at the plant he learned multiple trades from his father-in-law Cecil, continued his farming roots helping on the Preston family farm and becoming very familiar with their motto of many hands make light work. In addition he coached our baseball, football, soccer, softball, and wrestling teams.
He loved to golf, especially at his home course Pipestone Creek, cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears, anyone playing USC or Notre Dame, followed various NASCAR drivers, and was a proud American Legion member for 32 years.
Surviving are his wife Mary; sons Todd of Dowagiac; Mark (Teresa) of Mills River, North Carolina; Scott of Watervliet; daughter Sarah of Eau Claire; grandchildren Tyler, Ryleigh, and Madison Spoonholtz of Mills River, North Carolina; brother-in-law Edward Hicks of Eau Claire, siblings Joy Reinert, Helen Spoonholtz, and Richard “Dick” Spoonholtz all of Iowa; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents Willie and Ila Spoonholtz; in-laws Cecil and Alice (Sells) Preston; siblings and in-laws Mary Louise (Leroy) Vertz, Opal (Gaylord) Munyon, Jay (Georgia) Spoonhaltz, and Carol Jean Goddard; sister-in-law Donna Hicks; and brother-in-law Wilbert Reinert, Jr. We, the family, would like to thank the care team at Caring Circle - Hospice at Home, family friends Carla Gray Weiser, and Judy McGowan, and all the friends and extended family for the support and care of the last few weeks.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services.
Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Animal Services, CS Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan, or any local American Legion. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Memorial Contributions
Berrien County Animal Services
CS Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan
Your local American Legion
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