Wilfred John Spies, known as Fritz to all who loved him, was born in 1934 to August and Anna Spies in Morland, Ks. Fritz’s hard driven work ethic came from his father, who was both a farmer and a carpenter, and his mother who tended the homestead with her 11 children. When he was 21, he met the love of his life Lillian (Lil) in Grainfield, KS at a local dance hall where polka dancing was frequent. Fritz knew immediately he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Lil so after a whirlwind courtship they were married in Oakley, KS amongst many family, friends and wedding party of 12. This was just the beginning to their legacy.
Making their living farming wheat and milo Fritz and Lil expanded their family to include 4 children, Connie, Karla, Rodney, and Ricky. They started their successful Registered Charolais cattle business in the early 1960’s and had an opportunity to expand it and move to OK in 1968. They lived in Grove for a year before they bought their 360 acre ranch SW of Vinita where together they made it a showplace admired by anyone driving along Hwy. 69. In Vinita is where they expanded their operation and were respected internationally wherby advancing the Charolais progeny worldwide. Awarded the World Championship for Son of Sam, their prize winning Charolais bull, and the Governor’s Cup, the Spies’ were synonymous with integrity, hard work and impeccable character. They traveled throughout the states and Canada showing their Charolais’ with great success winning prestigious honors and awards wherever they showed. Residing much of their life in Vinita, OK, Fritz was well known for being the lead hand on numerous ranches throughout the state of Oklahoma. Ask anyone who knew him, Fritz could outwork anyone around him regardless of age. When not on a ranch, Fritz was ready to lend a productive hand or constructive word to anyone who was in need, whether they were family, friends, or strangers.
When he was not in the hayfield or out scanning for cows calving in the early morning hours, Fritz enjoyed fishing for catfish, keeping a beautiful yard, stealing away from work for a date with Lil to play bingo, and intense pinochle sessions with family that would last until the wee hours of the morning. An avid fan of the Sooners, Fritz would often be eating sunflower seeds at home while watching OU footfall with a baseball game blaring beside him on the radio. Dancing the polka with Lil and hosting family gatherings at their place, especially at Christmas was everything to Fritz. Family was everything to Fritz and he was a proud grandfather to 7 and great grandfather to 13.
After a long battle with cancer and complications from a stroke, Fritz died peacefully in his home surrounded by his children and grandchildren at his residence in Baxter Springs, KS and was once again reunited with his forever bride in heaven, likely dancing a polka.
Fritz was proceeded in death by his spouse Lillian (Meyer) Spies of 59 years, his parents, August and Anna (Braun) Spies Sr, infant son, Richard Joseph, brothers Daniel, Celestine, August Jr, sisters Ablena Billinger, Anna Knoll, and Gloria Partch. He is survived by his children Connie White of Cadet, MO, Karla Meislahn and husband Dean of Big Cabin, OK, Rodney and wife Ginger Spies of Goldthwaite, TX, brother William Spies of Denver, CO, sisters Martina Werth of Hays, KS, Margaret Billinger of Zurich, KS, Elaine Cisneros of Omaha, NB, 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice Compassus, 200 E. Centennial, Suite 9, Pittsburg, KS 66762
Rosary services will be 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 25, 2016 at the Luginbuel Funeral Chapel. Funeral mass will be 2 p.m., Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Holy Ghost Catholic with Rev. M. E. Cashen officiating. Interment will follow at Big Cabin Cemetery.
Making their living farming wheat and milo Fritz and Lil expanded their family to include 4 children, Connie, Karla, Rodney, and Ricky. They started their successful Registered Charolais cattle business in the early 1960’s and had an opportunity to expand it and move to OK in 1968. They lived in Grove for a year before they bought their 360 acre ranch SW of Vinita where together they made it a showplace admired by anyone driving along Hwy. 69. In Vinita is where they expanded their operation and were respected internationally wherby advancing the Charolais progeny worldwide. Awarded the World Championship for Son of Sam, their prize winning Charolais bull, and the Governor’s Cup, the Spies’ were synonymous with integrity, hard work and impeccable character. They traveled throughout the states and Canada showing their Charolais’ with great success winning prestigious honors and awards wherever they showed. Residing much of their life in Vinita, OK, Fritz was well known for being the lead hand on numerous ranches throughout the state of Oklahoma. Ask anyone who knew him, Fritz could outwork anyone around him regardless of age. When not on a ranch, Fritz was ready to lend a productive hand or constructive word to anyone who was in need, whether they were family, friends, or strangers.
When he was not in the hayfield or out scanning for cows calving in the early morning hours, Fritz enjoyed fishing for catfish, keeping a beautiful yard, stealing away from work for a date with Lil to play bingo, and intense pinochle sessions with family that would last until the wee hours of the morning. An avid fan of the Sooners, Fritz would often be eating sunflower seeds at home while watching OU footfall with a baseball game blaring beside him on the radio. Dancing the polka with Lil and hosting family gatherings at their place, especially at Christmas was everything to Fritz. Family was everything to Fritz and he was a proud grandfather to 7 and great grandfather to 13.
After a long battle with cancer and complications from a stroke, Fritz died peacefully in his home surrounded by his children and grandchildren at his residence in Baxter Springs, KS and was once again reunited with his forever bride in heaven, likely dancing a polka.
Fritz was proceeded in death by his spouse Lillian (Meyer) Spies of 59 years, his parents, August and Anna (Braun) Spies Sr, infant son, Richard Joseph, brothers Daniel, Celestine, August Jr, sisters Ablena Billinger, Anna Knoll, and Gloria Partch. He is survived by his children Connie White of Cadet, MO, Karla Meislahn and husband Dean of Big Cabin, OK, Rodney and wife Ginger Spies of Goldthwaite, TX, brother William Spies of Denver, CO, sisters Martina Werth of Hays, KS, Margaret Billinger of Zurich, KS, Elaine Cisneros of Omaha, NB, 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice Compassus, 200 E. Centennial, Suite 9, Pittsburg, KS 66762
Rosary services will be 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 25, 2016 at the Luginbuel Funeral Chapel. Funeral mass will be 2 p.m., Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Holy Ghost Catholic with Rev. M. E. Cashen officiating. Interment will follow at Big Cabin Cemetery.
Wilfred John Spies, known as Fritz to all who loved him, was born in 1934 to August and Anna Spies in Morland, Ks. Fritz’s hard driven work ethic came from his father, who was both a farmer and a carpenter, and his mother who tended the homestead with her 11 children. When he was 21, he met the love of his life Lillian (Lil) in Grainfield, KS at a local dance hall where polka dancing was frequent. Fritz knew immediately he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Lil so after a whirlwind courtship they were married in Oakley, KS amongst many family, friends and wedding party of 12. This was just the beginning to their legacy.
Making their living farming wheat and milo Fritz and Lil expanded their family to include 4 children, Connie, Karla, Rodney, and Ricky. They started their successful Registered Charolais cattle business in the early 1960’s and had an opportunity to expand it and move to OK in 1968. They lived in Grove for a year before they bought their 360 acre ranch SW of Vinita where together they made it a showplace admired by anyone driving along Hwy. 69. In Vinita is where they expanded their operation and were respected internationally wherby advancing the Charolais progeny worldwide. Awarded the World Championship for Son of Sam, their prize winning Charolais bull, and the Governor’s Cup, the Spies’ were synonymous with integrity, hard work and impeccable character. They traveled throughout the states and Canada showing their Charolais’ with great success winning prestigious honors and awards wherever they showed. Residing much of their life in Vinita, OK, Fritz was well known for being the lead hand on numerous ranches throughout the state of Oklahoma. Ask anyone who knew him, Fritz could outwork anyone around him regardless of age. When not on a ranch, Fritz was ready to lend a productive hand or constructive word to anyone who was in need, whether they were family, friends, or strangers.
When he was not in the hayfield or out scanning for cows calving in the early morning hours, Fritz enjoyed fishing for catfish, keeping a beautiful yard, stealing away from work for a date with Lil to play bingo, and intense pinochle sessions with family that would last until the wee hours of the morning. An avid fan of the Sooners, Fritz would often be eating sunflower seeds at home while watching OU footfall with a baseball game blaring beside him on the radio. Dancing the polka with Lil and hosting family gatherings at their place, especially at Christmas was everything to Fritz. Family was everything to Fritz and he was a proud grandfather to 7 and great grandfather to 13.
After a long battle with cancer and complications from a stroke, Fritz died peacefully in his home surrounded by his children and grandchildren at his residence in Baxter Springs, KS and was once again reunited with his forever bride in heaven, likely dancing a polka.
Fritz was proceeded in death by his spouse Lillian (Meyer) Spies of 59 years, his parents, August and Anna (Braun) Spies Sr, infant son, Richard Joseph, brothers Daniel, Celestine, August Jr, sisters Ablena Billinger, Anna Knoll, and Gloria Partch. He is survived by his children Connie White of Cadet, MO, Karla Meislahn and husband Dean of Big Cabin, OK, Rodney and wife Ginger Spies of Goldthwaite, TX, brother William Spies of Denver, CO, sisters Martina Werth of Hays, KS, Margaret Billinger of Zurich, KS, Elaine Cisneros of Omaha, NB, 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice Compassus, 200 E. Centennial, Suite 9, Pittsburg, KS 66762
Rosary services will be 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 25, 2016 at the Luginbuel Funeral Chapel. Funeral mass will be 2 p.m., Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Holy Ghost Catholic with Rev. M. E. Cashen officiating. Interment will follow at Big Cabin Cemetery.
Making their living farming wheat and milo Fritz and Lil expanded their family to include 4 children, Connie, Karla, Rodney, and Ricky. They started their successful Registered Charolais cattle business in the early 1960’s and had an opportunity to expand it and move to OK in 1968. They lived in Grove for a year before they bought their 360 acre ranch SW of Vinita where together they made it a showplace admired by anyone driving along Hwy. 69. In Vinita is where they expanded their operation and were respected internationally wherby advancing the Charolais progeny worldwide. Awarded the World Championship for Son of Sam, their prize winning Charolais bull, and the Governor’s Cup, the Spies’ were synonymous with integrity, hard work and impeccable character. They traveled throughout the states and Canada showing their Charolais’ with great success winning prestigious honors and awards wherever they showed. Residing much of their life in Vinita, OK, Fritz was well known for being the lead hand on numerous ranches throughout the state of Oklahoma. Ask anyone who knew him, Fritz could outwork anyone around him regardless of age. When not on a ranch, Fritz was ready to lend a productive hand or constructive word to anyone who was in need, whether they were family, friends, or strangers.
When he was not in the hayfield or out scanning for cows calving in the early morning hours, Fritz enjoyed fishing for catfish, keeping a beautiful yard, stealing away from work for a date with Lil to play bingo, and intense pinochle sessions with family that would last until the wee hours of the morning. An avid fan of the Sooners, Fritz would often be eating sunflower seeds at home while watching OU footfall with a baseball game blaring beside him on the radio. Dancing the polka with Lil and hosting family gatherings at their place, especially at Christmas was everything to Fritz. Family was everything to Fritz and he was a proud grandfather to 7 and great grandfather to 13.
After a long battle with cancer and complications from a stroke, Fritz died peacefully in his home surrounded by his children and grandchildren at his residence in Baxter Springs, KS and was once again reunited with his forever bride in heaven, likely dancing a polka.
Fritz was proceeded in death by his spouse Lillian (Meyer) Spies of 59 years, his parents, August and Anna (Braun) Spies Sr, infant son, Richard Joseph, brothers Daniel, Celestine, August Jr, sisters Ablena Billinger, Anna Knoll, and Gloria Partch. He is survived by his children Connie White of Cadet, MO, Karla Meislahn and husband Dean of Big Cabin, OK, Rodney and wife Ginger Spies of Goldthwaite, TX, brother William Spies of Denver, CO, sisters Martina Werth of Hays, KS, Margaret Billinger of Zurich, KS, Elaine Cisneros of Omaha, NB, 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice Compassus, 200 E. Centennial, Suite 9, Pittsburg, KS 66762
Rosary services will be 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 25, 2016 at the Luginbuel Funeral Chapel. Funeral mass will be 2 p.m., Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Holy Ghost Catholic with Rev. M. E. Cashen officiating. Interment will follow at Big Cabin Cemetery.
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