Obituary of Rick Spaniol

ROCHESTER -- A memorial service for Richard C. "Rick" Spaniol will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester, with the Rev. Paul Hauschild officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.  Mr. Spaniol, 58, of Rochester, died Monday (Jan. 24, 2005) of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, at his home. He had been ill for 8 1/2 years.  He was born Dec. 7, 1946, in St. Cloud, Minn. He grew up in St. Paul, and in 1958, moved to Rochester. In 1964, he graduated from Lourdes High School in Rochester. He received an associate in arts' degree in accounting from Rochester Community College and a technical degree in auto mechanics from Rochester Vocational School. He served in the Marine Corps from 1967 to 1969. From 1967 to 1968, he fought in Vietnam, earning three Purple Hearts and other combat medals. On Jan. 8, 1972, he married Katherine Johnson in Rochester. Mrs. Johnson is a PMR at Saint Marys Hospital. Mr. Spaniol worked at the Rochester Post Office from 1974 until his retirement in 2001 due to ill health. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Minnesota Street Rod Association, and Good Guys and Zephyrs Old-time Car Clubs. He collected guns and model cars, and enjoyed old cars, old-time movies and Minnesota sports.  Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Nissa (Philip) Kraling of Rochester; two sons, Zachary (Dawn) of Albertville, Minn., and Joshua (Heather) of Rochester; four grandchildren; his parents, Babe and Dick Spaniol of Rochester; one sister, Toni (Toby) Deters of Rochester; and one brother, Philip (Cathy) of Katy, Texas. His maternal and paternal grandparents preceded him in death.  Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, and an hour before the service Thursday at the church.  Memorials are suggested to Bethel Lutheran Church or Seasons Hospice.