Mark Spack MHS 1969
Survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Patti; daughter, Emily; sister, Linda (Michael) Abildtrup; brothers-and sister-in-law; and nieces, nephews, and countless close friends. Preceded in death by parents, Victor and Arlene (Ruhde) Spack; sister, Janice; brother, Michael, nephew, Eric Spack; and his beloved dog, Riley.
He attended school at the Manning, Iowa, Community School system and graduated high school in 1969. He was a letterman in football and basketball, and he played trumpet in the band. He went on to graduate from Northwest Missouri State University with a BS in Education and then entered into a successful career in the insurance industry. Mark remained close to dear friends in his hometown of Manning, Iowa. He took every opportunity to re-connect and share time with them through the years.
He was an enthusiastic supporter of the University of Iowa football and basketball programs and the New York Yankees. He played softball and co-ed volleyball and enjoyed collecting Hawkeye, Yankee, and Northwest Missouri State memorabilia.
Mark took great joy in life and he shared that joy with everyone he met. In addition to sports, he loved books, music, art, a wide range of collectibles, and his favorite activity was to entertain and share good times with his family and the many friends who loved him.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
1969 MHS graduates: Darrel Baker, Russell Baker, Paula Beck, Stephen Carlyle, Robert Case, John Croghan, Julia Croghan, Darlis Dammann,
Karen Dentlinger, James Dobler, John Dobler, Kathy Felker, Pamela Foley, Bruce Grimm, Pamela Hargens, Sandra Hass, Mark Heinicke,
Paul Hiatt, Kathy Hinze, Kit Hockett, John Hornberger, Lydia Hugeback, Fred Irlbeck, Sue Irlmeier, Terry Jensen, Kathleen Joens, Lyle Karsten,
David Kasperbauer, Kerry Lohrmann, Curt Long, Juan Maranon, Mark McNutt, Eddie Meiers, Dale Moeller, Larry Mohr, Greg Moore, Lois Muhlbauer,
Betty Mundt, Judy Nissen, Dale Pfannkuch, Kathy Potthoff, David Rohe, JoAnn Rohe, Dennis Rowedder, David W. Schroeder, Michael Schwaller,
Mark Spack, Donna Spieker, Pat Sporrer, Irene Stangl (valedictorian),
Larry Stangl, Nancy Stoberl (salutatorian), Kenneth Sturm, David Taggart,
Gale Tibben, Linda Turner, Sandra Vinke, Felix Vogl, Jr., David Vonnahme, Steve Walters, Myra Jean Weems, Gail Wegner, Janice Wegner, Barbara Wiese
1969 former students: David Determann, Jackie Frahm, John Frahm, Paula Frisinger, Mary Jo Haase, Steven Heuton, Diane Hinz, Penny Hunter, Joey Irlmeier, Terry Joens, Bonnie Jurgensen, Danny Keat, Janeen Kienast, Glen Kuhl, Doug Maasen, Terry McConnell, Bonnie Meggers, Nickie Mount, Diane Muhlbauer, Sheryl Musfeldt, Alvin Nepple, Ann Pearson, Janice Pfannkuch, Marcus Popp, Lanny Porsch, Deborah Ricke, Becky Schwiesow, Mary Swander, Richard Talboy, Michael Wegner, Stephen Wittrock, Debra Wood
Do you ever take the time to think about how many people we interact with and probably influence (both good and bad) over the span of our lives?
Take a look at the large number of different schoolmates and classmates the Spack family interacted with, just during their school years.
Linda Spack MHS 1966
Michael Spack (Trinity Lutheran Church Lincoln Township confirmation)
MHS 1963
Mike Spack
Back: Linda Spack, ??, Kathy Fischer, Janice Mundt, Kathy Olsen, ??, ??
Middle: Joyce Karsten, Jeff Wegner, ??, ??, John Beckman
Front: Robert Nissen, Lynn Ramsey, Larry Farrell, Gary Jones, Mark Joens
Probably the first grade members of the MHS class of 1966
Remember the white picket fence along the athletic field?
February 28, 2013
Hi David,
Sorry for procrastinating in responding to your email, I really do enjoy your
website! You deserve a tremendous amount of praise and credit for maintaining
and updating not only your website but for your contributions to the history of
Manning as well.
I don't have a lot of information concerning my brother's time in the Army. He
was inducted in 1965 and took his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. I do
remember him telling me a story before he shipped out to South Korea on how the
assignments were handed out after his class's graduation from basic. Apparently
the men (boys) were lined up in a single file while a Sgt. went down the line
handing out their destinations. Mike said all he heard as the Sgt. approached him was "Nam, Nam, Nam, etc. for
almost everyone in front of him, when the Sgt. finally touched his shoulder, it
was 'South Korea". The guy behind him got West Germany, and then the "Nam" chant began again down the line.
In South Korea he was assigned to the Honor Guard and spent the rest of that
time in Korea with that outfit. While in Korea, he was able to hook up several times with another Manning
classmate, then serving in the army, Patrick Callender. Apparently they had a pretty good time when they hooked up on leave.
After completing his tour in Korea, he was sent to Fort Hood and assigned to
the 2nd Armor Division ("Hell on Wheels"). Again I remember him telling me not
only was it hot and dusty, but before taking his seat in an armored personnel
carrier, he had to check it to make sure there wasn't a rattlesnake warming
itself up a little. He was honorably discharged in 1967. Under separate cover,
I will be mailing to you two pictures of my brother taken while he was in the service.
Cliff (Pat) was my dad's brother so yes he was my uncle. My cousin Rick Spack
is Pat's son, and I'm sure he has pictures of Pat who was in the thick of the
fighting in WWII. He fought in Italy, landed at Anzio I believe, and then landed in France with an armor outfit and
fought until Germany's surrender driving a Sherman. My dad was the youngest and
since he was farming, he was not drafted.
I also had another Uncle from Manning that served, Rockley Wiese (he's on the
wall in Manning). This was Dorothy Weise's husband and Brad Wiese's father. I
don't know a lot about of his service during WWII except that was taken
prisoner shortly after landing in France and spent the war as a P.O.W. My other
uncle in Manning that served in the war was Harold Ruhde. I know he was in
North Africa and the Middle East while serving in the army.
As far as me David, let me put it this way; I graduated in 1969 at the age of
seventeen, since my father has passed away, "Uncle Sam" said he could help pay
my way thru college (Social Security) or send me to Viet Nam. I chose toga
parties over rice paddies. I have tremendous respect for all our veterans, but it seemed like the right choice at the time. Still does.
Let me know if you have any questions and keep up the good work.
Mark Spack
I know this is not a very sharp/clear photo (actually out of focus because the photographer moved) of one of the Kindergarten classes, but if you can help with IDs please do so.
Also, if you have a better image and/or one of the other 1 or 2 Kindergarten classes, please let me know so I can scan them...
