Roger E. Spreen Jr.

Born to Roger Elmore Spreen, Sr. and Janette (Jan Miller) Spreen on November 24, 1945, in Seattle, Washington, where his father’s ship was ported at the end of WWII, Roger and his younger brother Wesley were raised in a proud Naval family and lived across the United States and United Kingdom while their father rose through the military ranks. As a young child, Roger lived in San Francisco and went to the first grade in San Diego. During the Korean War his dad was captain of a ship based in what was then the Territory of Hawaii, and Roger was a second grade alumnus of Pearl Harbor Elementary School before crossing the globe to spend a few years in Northern Virginia. He spent his middle school years in a boys' school in England, where his father served on the American embassy staff in London. Later he returned to Tidewater Virginia, then spent a few high school years in Newport, Rhode Island, before going to Norfolk, Virginia for his senior year in high school. A recurring theme in his early life was his affinity for the ocean, and in his free time he was usually fishing, handling small boats, or swimming and hanging out on the beaches which were always a nearby feature of navy towns. Throughout their many moves, Ohio remained the family’s home base, with Roger, Sr. and Jan being from Sidney and Lima, respectively.

After enlisting in the Marines and serving as a radio operator in Da Nang, Vietnam in the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1967, Roger enrolled in The Ohio State University where he became one of the first recipients of the Pace Setter Award in fall 1970 before he graduated in 1971 with a degree in finance and real estate. At OSU, he met his eventual wife, Patricia (Pat) Bangs, in 1970 and they married in 1972.

Roger began his career with Borden, Inc. as an auditor in Columbus, and moved to Cleveland with Handcraft Metals/Kleco before moving to Holland, Michigan to work as controller for Herman Miller. His career took him and Pat to Bucks County, Pennsylvania for more than twenty years where their two children, Loraine and Roger III, were born and raised. During these decades, his career spanned finance roles with Portion Packaging, consulting firms and Sancoa, Inc. Roger and Pat returned to the Columbus area in 2002 for his role as chief financial officer for AmeriSource Bergen/American Health Packaging, before he retired in 2008.

A lifelong lover of sailing, Roger taught his wife to sail early in their marriage and owned two separate sailboats, both named “Oniomania,” when they first lived in Ohio. In retirement, Roger returned to sailing when he purchased a sailboat, Wind Gypsy, and spent his time lovingly restoring and maintaining the 38-foot boat. Originally moored alongside his brother’s boat in Havre de Grace, Maryland where they explored the Chesapeake Bay, Roger eventually moved the boat to Sandusky and sailed extensively on Lake Erie. He continued his steadfast upkeep of the boat and achieved a lifelong goal of sailing across four Great Lakes in summer 2014 on a three-week expedition with his brother. In addition to sailing, Roger was an avid hiker and enjoyed exploring the Appalachian Trail and local trails. He also loved training and caring for the family’s Irish Setters. Roger also enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the “Spreen Cottage” in Ocean City, NJ.

Roger is survived by his wife of 53 years, Pat; daughter Loraine; son Roger III (Katie); beloved grandsons, Edwin and Kellen; brother Wesley (Susan White); dog Moody; many brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 19, at Schoedinger Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 E Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230, from 4:00pm – 7:00pm. Roger’s memorial service will be held the following morning, February 20, at Mifflin Presbyterian Church, 123 Granville Street, Gahanna, OH 43230, beginning at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, the Spreen family suggests a donation to Wesley Hospice, 4588 Wesley Wds. Blvd Ste. 2A, New Albany, OH 43054 or Mifflin Presbyterian Church, 123 Granville St, Gahanna, OH 43230.