"I didn't know Spike long. I met him the summer of 2016 when I started working assisted living. He was a kind and loving man. A great guy. He was a friend. I enjoyed talking everyday and learning from him. He always had a smile on his face when I saw him. I offer my condolences to his family. He will be missed very much so. "
In loving memory of
LeRoy "Spike" Spargur
July 5, 1927 - May 4, 2018
LeRoy "Spike" Spargur, son of Harry Jennings and Ione Elizabeth (Pursell) Spargur, was born on July 5, 1927 in Shenandoah, Iowa. He passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2018 at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 90.
Spike graduated from Shenandoah High School with the class of 1945. He enlisted into military service on September 9, 1944 in Des Moines, Iowa and into active duty on August 23, 1945 with the Army Air Force, 18th Communication Squadron 8th AAF as a Cryptographic Technician. He was discharged on December 20, 1946 as a Private 1st Class where he received the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Metal and Pacific Theater Ribbon.
He graduated from Tarkio College in May of 1953 with a Business degree. He also completed a computer programming class at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs receiving a school certificate on June 29, 1967.
Spike was united in marriage to Elaine Mortimore on April 10, 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska. The couple along with Elaine's son, Ramon, made Shenandoah their lifelong home. Spike worked for Mt. Arbor Nurseries as a Wholesale Sales Manager until his retirement.
He loved to golf and was a five-time Shenandoah City Champion. Spike also was an excellent Snooker player, he challenged John Knicely from Channel 7 News Omaha to a Snooker match at Doc's Pool Hall in which Spike won. He was an 80-year member of the First United Methodist Church, 31-year member of the Shenandoah Elks Lodge #1122 and a 53-year member of the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88. He was also a huge supporter of Shenandoah Athletics.
Spike was a loving husband and father, dedicated son and loving grandfather and great-grandfather and a friend to all.
He was preceded in death by wife Elaine in 2012, his parents and brother Lloyd. Those left to cherish his memory include his son Ramon Henderson and wife Kymberly of Scottsdale, AZ; grandchildren Kristin Lynn Henderson of Chicago, IL, Melissa Rae McBride and husband Matt of Chicago, IL and Christopher Paul Henderson and wife Amy of Fort Worth, TX; three great-grandchildren Matthew McBride, Mason McBride and William Henderson; other relatives and many friends.
Celebration of life funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, May 7, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Shenandoah.
Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.
Burial will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah with military rites provided by the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88 Color Guard.
In lieu of flowers memorials may directed to the First United Methodist Church of Shenandoah or the Shenandoah American Legion Golf Course.
Tributes
"Where does one begin with Dear Spike!! Such a kind and loving man. To have a friend- be a friend. That was Spike. Mr. Shenandoah and Mr. Social! He will be greatly missed by so many! We all love you, Spike. The Good Lord will be good to him. David and Mary ( Maher) Knop"
"God blessed us by giving us Spike to enjoy and learn from. He knew and remembered so much it was a personal delight to visit with him. We would always talk about the Dunton House Restaurant in Arlington Heights IL where I lived; and he had been there dining many times visiting family. "
"It has been a very sad weekend for me to lose a life long friend like Spike. Gloria and I offer our deepest condolences to all of the family and you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I don't know of anyone in Shenandoah who had a bigger fan base and influenced so many people over his lifetime than Spike. We remained close friends throughout my adult years even though I have been gone from Shenandoah for 50 years. I was fortunate to call him on the Sunday before his death. I cherish that call. In junior high I caddied for Bob Cahill and it was during this time that our friendship really began. There are so many memories of all the good times with the "gang"; Don Lewis, Bob Cahill, Swede Larson, Andy Anderson. Spike was a true mentor to all the junior golfers at the American Legion Country Club. I had the distinction of being the "designated driver" for them for out of town tournaments during my high school years. Spike gave me an update on all his grandchildren each time we talked. Spike was so proud of the accomplishments of Chip, Kristin, and Melissa. Mr. Shenandoah will be missed by so many for his smile, laugh, and his love of people and life. I am just sorry that I am not going to be in Shenandoah for his Celebration of Life service. Rest in peace Spike. "
"I have known Spike for most of my life. He and Elaine lived in our neighborhood. He always had a smile and always had something nice to stay. He and my mom were in the same class. He watched me grow up. When mom moved to Windsor Manor a year ago, Spike saw mom everyday. When I would visit mom I always had to say hello to spike and give him a hug. He will be such a great loss to Shenandoah. He know the history and if someone wanted to know something, they asked Spike, He had a good memory. He will be missed. Sorry I cannot attend the service but I live in Colorado now. I always enjoyed seeing him at church. Very proud to have known this gentle, caring man. Janet Anton"
"I have had the privilege of knowing Spike since 1961 when I delivered his newspaper every morning. He told me he wanted it at his house no later than 7:00 A.M. or not to bother delivering it because he wanted to read it prior to going to work! He was one of my favorite customers. He and Elaine were great friends to my parents and after my Dad died, Spike and Elaine continued to socialize with Mom and cared about her. He was a friend to everyone and his memory concerning Shenandoah High School and athletes amazed us all. Spike was an ambassador for Shenandoah and with his passing Shenandoah lost a great man and friend. Rest in peace. God bless. "
"A great smile ? a great man ? a great friend. Spike was the cornerstone of a wonderful family ? sending warm hugs to our special friends Ray, Melissa and Kristin. A loss for Shenandoah ? a loss for us all."
"I am feeling the loss of a very good friend. Spike always had a big smile for everyone. Who could ever forget his laugh. I enjoyed many cups of coffee with him over many years and was impressed with his amazing memory. Spike was a true Shenandoah icon. Rest in peace good friend. Bill Ludwig"
"He was a good friend to so many. Spike taught me lessons on friendship. Our daily trips to Jay Drug will be missed. He adored is grandchildren and friends. I?ll miss you Spike. "
"Kerry and I deeply feel the loss of SPIKE as does everyone.We are so thankful we had a chance to visit with on our return to Iowa last Thanksgiving.He was a living example of a gentleman and a friend. I've never known anyone so respected and loved by so many.AS his legacy lives on, let's carry forth those core values he taught us by example."MAY GOD BLESS""
"What a super guy ! You were always happy to talk baseball. You will be dearly missed by all your many friends. You are now with Elaine and friends that went before you. Thank you for the privilege of knowing you."
"Spike & Elaine were a super couple. Elaine was a distant cousin of my mother (Lucille Fender Catlett). I am unable to make it to the service or visitation but please know we are thinking of you. Prayers to the family from the children of Gabe & Lucille Catlett, Sharon Walter, Don Catlett, & Jeannie Thomas. We all live in Hamburg, IA"
"Every morning while having coffee on my front porch, Spike would drive by with a honk and BIG wave. He was a good neighbor and friend. Always remembered a name and face. Rest in Peace.... Deb and Ron Biggers"
"Farewell Spike and Rest In Peace. It was an honor to know you, and your Dad. Always enjoyed bumping into you on my visits back to Shen and catching up. You always had a kind word for my parents, always touching base with them regularly. You touched many lives, there will be a another void in Shenandoah's historic ambassadors. "
"i was fortunate enough to know spike for all of my formative years,,,,, (and god knows i needed a rock like him in those young years),,,,, i learned so much from his sage advice and it was never condescending,,,,,,, i learned to shoot pool from his father and was eventually able to hold my own with his son,,,,,, (quite a feat if i do say so myself),,,,, and the game was snooker in the winter months,,,,,,, summer was for the bigger greens of the American Legion Country Club,,,,,,, i learned from Spike, Whitey Davis, Bob Cahill, Don Lewis, Jim Winegardner, et el: what it was to be a gentleman without 4 letter words and where honesty was the rule of law,,,,,, i could go on and on with the lessons learned from honest men like Spike,,,,,,, he was a true gentleman and showed respect to ALL he came in contact with,,,,,, as mentioned earlier,,,,,, Shenandoah lost a true treasure with his passing,,,,,, farewell my old friend,,,,,, "
"Spike was "Mr. Shenandoah" and our greatest fan for all of us who participated in sports throughout our high school years. It always amazed me how he remembered the team records of each year. He lived a good life and I was blessed to have known him.. Jerry Gardner "
"Spike will certainly be missed by many. He used to play golf with my father inlaw Frank Clay a number of years ago. Any time we would visit Shenandoah, we would somehow always get to see and visit with Spike. He was a friend to everyone in our home town. Bryce & Mary Teachout"
"Spike was always eager to visit with people and had a lot of friends in Shenandoah. He was a true gentleman and will be truly missed. God bless!"
"My condolences to the Shenandoah population. You just lost another great citizen. I'll miss visiting with him during annual visits. RIP ole friend. Mick Ayres"
"Godspeed Spike. One of Shenandoah's finest people. He always had an answer about Shenandoah' history.. Have a couple of beers and show them in Heaven how to play snooker."
"Such a positive friendly gentleman! Rest in peace Spike."
"Kind and thoughtful. Interested and interesting. Open and sharing. Shenandoah has lost a treasure."
"Spike, thank you for your friendship, your knowledge and your sense of humor. It's been my honor and privilege to help you get to coffee, the Elks and elsewhere. Rest In Peace my friend! "
"What a great guy! Got to know Spike while watching games with him at Spargur Field many years ago. Always a friendly hello when we crossed paths."
"Spike, thank you for your friendship, your knowledge and your sense of humor. It's been my honor and privilege to help you get to coffee, the Elks and elsewhere. Rest In Peace my friend! "
"My thoughts and prayers are with you. He'll be missed. There's a party goin on in heaven tho. Laura Gingery Stephens"