Donald Bryan Spitzmiller, son of Goldie Duree, was born October 18, 1939, in Pilot Knob, Missouri. He was raised by his maternal grandparents. He graduated from high school in 1957. He served in the United States Army for four years from October 1961 to January 1965. Twenty-eight months were spent in Panama where he achieved Specialist at the time of his honorable discharge. He was an active member of the American Legion from 1974 to 2021. His favorite activity was making the shrimp on Friday night Fish Fries.
Upon return to civilian life, he became a carpenter’s apprentice and began his life-long career as a carpenter. He remained in carpentry, with a focus on commercial construction, until retirement in 2004 at the age of 65.
In June of 1966, Don was baptized and confirmed at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Louis. On April 8th, 1967 he married Judith Ann Harmening. They were married for forty-eight years when she passed away on September 7th, 2015. Don is survived by his three children, their spouses and nine grandchildren. His children and grandchildren are DeAnn (Mike) Hopper, Lauren, Mikayla, and Katelyn Hopper; Angela (Keith) Crabtree, Isabella, Eva and Maya Crabtree; Renae (Gregg) Green, Amanda, Brittany and Brandon Green.
Don and Judy began attending Peace Lutheran Church in 1976. Don served as an usher and was a member of the Board of Property management, serving as the chairman until 1997. He was a member of the Peter Careciple group, Couple’s Club, and Men’s Club. He also participated in the Boar’s Head Christmas Festival for many years.
Don spent most of his life working hard to support his family, building and fixing things, and finding creative ways to use leftover materials to build new creations like household items or dollhouses for each of his girls. Anything his family needed he could build it. He had a keen sense of figuring things out. He loved to project manage at work as well as at home. He supervised with much passion as he always knew what was best. ;) He will be remembered for the soft heart he often hide under a tough exterior.
On November 21st, he entered Mercy Hospital with declining health. His daughters and grandchildren spent precious time by his side until he passed away on December 13th at de Greeff Hospice House. He was 83 years old.
A visitation for Donald will be held Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63125. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 12:30 PM. Burial to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with full military honors.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HoffmeisterSouthCounty.com for the Spitzmiller family.
