Earl Leslie Spence

EARL LESLIE SPENCE (Sonny), 88, was born on June 5, 1929 at New Lebanon (Cooper County) Missouri, the son of Bennie and Flora (Leap) Spence. He attended several rural schools and graduated from the eighth grade at New Lebanon in 1943. Earl attended Pilot Grove High School, graduating in 1947.

Except for a brief stint to serve his country from 1951-53 during the Korean War, Earl was a farmer in the Cooper County area his entire life, having row crops and cattle until his retirement. He was known to be able to “fix” anything from plumbing to electricity to carpentry to machinery repair.

On October 18, 1969 he was united in marriage to Margaret Ann Keseman at Immanuel Lutheran Church at Lincoln, Missouri. Two sons, Mark Spence and Dale Spence, were born to this union. He also has a daughter, Connie Larm, from a previous marriage.

Earl was very active in his church and community. He was a member of the Pilot Grove Community Church (formerly the United Church of Christ). He served in all positions, including President of the Board of Deacons as well as being a Sunday School teacher for several years. He devoted many hours of his time and talents to the church maintenance and upkeep, mostly unknown to others.

He served as President on the Pilot Grove School Board and Pilot Grove Rental Housing. He was an active member of the Pilot Grove Lions Club, the American Legion, and the New Lebanon Cemetery Association in various capacities.

Being a devoted husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, and uncle, he loved having his family around him. Earl enjoyed hunting and fishing, tending his cattle, and watching his crops grow. He lived each day putting the needs of others before his own, always willing to lend a helping hand.

Earl is survived by his wife Margaret of Pilot Grove, MO, one daughter Connie Larm of Boonville, MO, two sons Mark Spence and wife Susan of St. Louis, MO, Dale Spence and wife Tricia of St. Louis, MO, four grandchildren Derek Larm and wife Michelle, Cassandra Beck and husband Steven, Will Spence, and Grant Spence. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren Alexandra Rutkowski, Mariah Larm, Silas Beck, and Haley Beck, a sister Dorothy Spence, a sister-in-law Janie Herigon, a brother-in-law Charles Keseman and wife Esther, and a host of nieces, nephews, and loving friends.
He was proceeded in death by his parents Bennie and Flora Spence, three brothers Lawrence Spence, Richard Spence, and Wayne Spence, and a sister Margaret Rogers.

Visitation services will be 5-7pm on 4 Dec 2017 at the Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Pilot Grove, MO.

Funeral services will be at 10am on 5 Dec 2017 at the Pilot Grove Community Church on highway N west of Pilot Grove, MO with burial to follow at New Lebanon Cemetery in New Lebanon, MO on highway A south of Pilot Grove, MO.

Memorials are suggested to the New Lebanon Cemetery or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Online condolences may be submitted at www.meisenheimerfuneralhome.com.

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