John Kevin Spence

John Kevin Spence, 72, passed away Sept. 3 in Tomah, WI surrounded by his family. 
John was born on Oct. 25, 1953 in Muskegon, MI and spent his childhood in Newberry, MI, graduating from Newberry High School in 1971. After high school he started his 55 year career with Michigan Department Of Transportation where he served over 100,000 hours maintaining and clearing Michigan roads. John was a dedicated and hard worker. He ran the plows and kept the roads cleared through the winter months. He spent the warmer months on various road projects improving Kalkaska County and the State of Michigan. 
John enjoyed fixing things and had a knack for finding things along Michigan highways. In 1982 he moved to South Boardman, where he settled down and started a family. In his free time, he taught the girls to share his love for riding dirt bikes and coached softball. This was the same year he became a member of the Lansing Motorcycle Club where he enjoyed trail riding. He dedicated countless of hours to the preparation of trails for the annual LMC Jack Pine enduro race every summer, earning a Lifetime Serve Award. 
John loved his grandkids. He would travel to Wisconsin for several weeks three times a year in spring, summer, and fall. Every spring his trips were spent enjoying Easter with them. We think he loved the candy as much as the kids did! He would make a trip over the Fourth of July to celebrate America and enjoy fireworks and wild berry picking with the kids. Every fall he would align his trip to ensure he got to go trick or treating–again, CANDY! The running joke every spring and fall was that John brought the snow with him to WI. Some Easter’s and Halloween’s were snow covered and John would joke about it laughingly. 
John is survived by his daughters: Megan Spence (Chris Brandl), Mellissa Schumacher (Bryan Schumacher); Grandkids: Tyler, Caydance, Marshall, Shaina, Amelia, Grant, Isabella and Henry; siblings: Judy Spence, Terry and Chris Spence, Trudy and Gary LaForest; Niece’s and Nephew’s: Jeff and Melissa Spence, Stacy and Toby Carter, Rob and Jo Spence, Ryan and Joanne Spence, Katie and Daniel Goulet, Mark and Jennifer LaForest, Nick and Nancy LaForest, Anna, Alex, and many great nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by: Parents John and Kay Spence; Siblings: Thomas Spence, Holly Osborne; Nephew: Adam Osborne. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. He will be greatly missed. Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah is assisting the family. Online condolences can be offered by visiting www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com,