Birth date: Apr 3, 1918 Death date: Oct 27, 2013
Cecil Spatcher, age 95, of Ames, died at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines on October 27, 2013. A gathering of friends and family will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31st at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Li Read Obituary
To Cecil's family from Keith and Bob Covey: We were sorry to learn of Cecil's passing. Bob enjoyed a good visit with him recently. We both have great memories of Cecil as a person, coach, co-worker on summer painting projects and as a good friend of our parents. We send our sincere condolences and best wishes to all of you and your families.
Sandy, Julie, Dave and family, I was so sorry to learn of Cecil's passing. My condolences to all of you. As a former student,athlete and later Cecil's dentist, I have known and respected your dad for most of my life. He was a wonderful man, that helped me a great deal in my younger years. He was always a pleasure to be with and brought a smile to all of our faces when he came into the office. He blessed our lives and I know how proud you must be of him. It truly was an honor to be his friend.
Hands down... One of the best AHS coaches. He developed athletic skills for sure in his teams, but what most impressed me was the life skills of kindness, understanding and integrity. Really only someone who lives these out daily can teach them to others.
What a great family.
Spatch's Family--What a friend, colleague, and mentor Spatch was for me when I taught biology at Ames High. Spatch was the a great example of Ames High Aims High. His students and his players were always first and foremost with Cec. and yet he always found time to spend time with his family. He was a great teacher/educator and one that held himself to very high standards. I treasure the years I spent teaching with Cec. and I vividly remember a trip he and I took (by car) to Denver, CO for a National biology teachers meeting. He wanted to stop at sporting goods store in Sydney, NE to look at some shot guns. We did that and I said, Cec. it's your turn to drive. I fell asleep and when I woke up I saw a sign that said, "Cheyenne" 45 miles. I said, "Cec. we are going to Denver (he had missed the turn off to De!nver). His reply, "Oh, you will like Cheynee." Cec and I shared many lunch times together and we always seem to find time to laugh as well as talk about how to make learning
Mt. Spatcher was one of my favorite teachers. He was absent from our 8th period Biology class one day & when I asked the student teacher where he was, she said he was out setting up hurdles for a meet. Being a bit rebellious, I decided if he didn't need to be there neither did I. I don't recall getting in trouble, but we talked. He was so gracious. We both learned a bit from each other . I baked him oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies to apologize. He was a wonderful man and I wish you peace for your hearts and hope you have a lovely celebration of his life.
Cynthia Jorstad AHS '77
Thief River Falls, MN
Spatch -- you were a great coach. I am sorry you could never figure out my Mom's secret for growing roses at 1313 Maxwell Ave. You are an AHS treasure!
Cecil made great memories for the Maxwell Avenue neighborhood. We will always remember his sense of humor and all the vegetables he shared. He lived a long and productive life.
It was a pleasure to visit with "Coach" Spatcher this past June when my father (Harold Warner). Dad was on Coaches first basketball team in 1941 as a senior and it was your dad's first year of teaching and coaching. I felt somewhat like a translator as your dad at 95 and my dad at 90 were both hard of hearing and my voice was the one they could both understand so I pretty much repeated everything to them. It was really a lot of fun, hearing the tales of that team straight from the horses mouth so to speak. Their memories were so clear concerning events from 72 years earlier. I think they both were telling each other things that neither had known about before. I had heard my dad's stories before growing up, but they became so much more real in their reliving it together. My sympathy goes out to your whole family, I only met him once, but he was a special man.
I miss seeing you. It was the highlight of my day coming in to see you at 3 and 7. I will miss you Spatch!!!
Our sympathy to the Spatcher family. Just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed our visit with your Dad when he & Darwin were interviewed this summer. Perhaps you have a copy of the Story City Herald where they were front page NEWS. What a good picture of the two. My cousin from Marion, Ia. was elated when he learned that Cecil was still living & was most anxious to get the two man together for an interview about that particular FB game & the "sleeper play." Your Dad's memory of that game was absolutely amazing as he went back "there" to that game. When he looked at his teams' picture, more memories were shared with us about the other players. What a memorable afternoon & we're grateful to have spent that time with him. He liked to tease too, which he did as we left. What a sharp fella' at the age of 95. Treasure your memories! Jackie & Darwin Johnson P.S. That particular issue of the S.C. Herald was a near "sell-out." I wanted to purchase 4 more copies & was allowed only 2!!
