Frank Joseph ''Joe'' Spaeth's Obituary
Mass of Christian Burial for Frank Joseph ''Joe'' Spaeth, 86, of Longview, will be celebrated at 12 Noon Monday, April 15, 2002, at St. Mary?s Catholic Church with Reverend Gavin N. Vaverek, JCL, and Reverend Denzil Vithanage, SSS, as celebrants. Interment will follow in the Garden of Crucifixion at Rosewood Park in Longview. A Rosary will be recited at 5 PM on Sunday, April 14, 2002, at St. Mary?s Catholic Church. His grandchildren will be pallbearers.
Mr. Spaeth passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2002, surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Spaeth was born December 3, 1915 to George and Elizabeth Sandmann Spaeth in Gainesville, Texas. He was educated at St. Peter?s Parochial School, Lindsay, Texas.
Mr. Spaeth was drafted into military service, during peacetime, on June 18, 1941 and assigned to Company E, 23rd Armored Engineers Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, He landed on Omaha Beach and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. On April 16, 1945, he was wounded at Dessau, Germany from German machine gun ambush. This was near the Mulde River where his company was building a bridge. During his service he received the EAME Campaign Medal with 5 Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged October 26, 1945 as a Technician 4th Grade.
On January 10, 1946, he married Loretta Rohmer. The moved to East Texas and he began his career in the oil business. He founded Geological Exploration Co. in 1975 and served as CEO until recently. He was an active member of Saint Anthony?s Catholic Church, serving on the finance and building committees. He was a member of St. Mary?s Catholic Church, life member of Knights of Columbus Council 2771, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, past Faithful Navigator, member of the Bishop Guild since inception in 1972, life member of VFW Post 4002, life member of the Cherokee Country Golf Association, member of the API and the American Legion. In 1988 he was invested as a Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Preceding him in death were his parents, four sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Lee Haverkamp, Francis Spaeth, Tillie and Andrew Boy Schoech, Agnes and Joe Knuepper and one brother Henry Spaeth. He is survived by his wife Loretta of 56 years; sons: Everett Spaeth and wife Becky of Dallas and Alan Spaeth and wife Mary of Dallas: Daughter: Linda Robinett of Longview; six grandchildren: Vanessa Robinett Hill, Donald Robinett, Jennifer, Erika, Michael and Daniel Spaeth; four sisters and three brothers-in-law: Polly and Wilfred Reiter, Evelyn and Arthur Felderhoff, T-Mae and Mark Kuta and Georgia Berry; and one sis-ter-in-law: Marie Spaeth.
Mr. Spaeth was a faithful supporter of St. Mary?s Catholic School. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Mary?s Catholic School Endowment Fund, 405 Hollybrook, Longview, Texas 75605.
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