Raymond A. Spangenberg

It pleased our Lord Jesus to call to Himself the soul of his servant, Raymond Spangenberg, on February 16, 2011, at the age of 84. Raymond Allen Spangenberg was born February 15, 1927 to Christian parents, Raymond and Myrtle (Hoerning) Spangenberg in Appleton, WI. He was baptized into the family of God at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Appleton on March 2, 1927. Ray confessed his faith in Jesus Christ at his confirmation at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in May 1941. After graduating from Appleton High School in 1945, he joined the Air Force, even with the war in Europe over, hoping to be a pilot. Serving in Biloxi, MS, Norfolk, VA, and Cincinnati, OH, he learned the teletype machine. Later in his 2 years of service he spent 8 months in Okinawa after the war with Japan had ended. After an honorable discharge, Ray attended Lawrence College in Appleton on the GI Bill, earning a BS in Education, with an emphasis on Science. He played his favorite sport football in high school as well as at Lawrence College. In 1952, while considering a position in Wausau, WI to teach Junior High Science, he received a call from the Lutheran Synodical Mission Board to teach High School Science and Math at the Lutheran High School in Obot Idim, Nigeria, West Africa. Ray spent a semester at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri to prepare for his work in Nigeria. While in St. Louis, Ray met Lois Anderson, a nursing student at Lutheran Hospital. They became engaged, and planned a wedding in Nigeria a year later after Lois graduated. Lois joined Ray in Nigeria and they were married on October 12, 1952, at the Lutheran Chapel at Obot Idim. Ray served at the mission for 7 years. Upon returning to the United States in 1958, 'Spang' received a call to teach Biology and Math at Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, WI. He started the football program there, and served as head coach for 22 years. He retired from teaching in 1993, but continued to volunteer in the school library for a number of years. He enjoyed attending activities at WLA, especially while grandchildren were attending there; Ray was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, since 1958. Ray loved to cross-country ski, sail his 21 foot sailboat (the 'Rather Than') on Lake Winnebago, travel through the state of Wisconsin, watch airplanes in the sky, and, of course, root for the Packers.Ray is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois; his son Don (Jean Kaiser), his daughters Laura (Tom) Kimball and Julie (Dean) Waldschmidt; 9 grandchildren, Sara (David) Benning, Michelle (Jon) Teske, Jennifer (Jeff) Heidenreich, Joshua (Genevieve) Waldschmidt, Jacob (Heather) Waldschmidt, Rachel (Pastor Joshua) Olson, Kayla Waldschmidt, Andrew and Emily Kimball; 5 great-grandchildren, Linnea, Isabella, Natalie Josiah, and Wesley; his brothers, Ivan and David (Marion) Spangenberg; together with nieces, nephews, and cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents; son Michael Allen (buried at Obot Idim, Nigeria); his sister-in-law, Carol Spangenberg.



A memorial service to glorify the Lord of Life will be held 3:00 PM at Faith Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, on Saturday February 19, 2011 with visitation 2 hours prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Faith Lutheran Church and school, Hospice Hope. 'For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 8:38-39.Uecker-Witt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements; additional information and guestbook may be found at www.ueckerwitt.com