Grace DeLight Spohn, age 85, of North Platte, NE, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at the North Platte Care Center after a brief illness.
Grace was born August 12, 1931, to John Jay and Grace Ellen Pratt Davison in Washington, IA. She grew up on the family farmstead outside of town and graduated from Washington High School in 1950. Grace was working at a bank in Cedar Rapids, IA, when she met Harry Ray Spohn.
Grace and Harry were married on March 1, 1952, in Cedar Rapids then they moved to Norfolk, NE. Since Harry worked for the Weather Service, the couple relocated many times living in Sault Ste. Marie, MI; Montgomery, AL; El Paso, TX; Des Moines, IA; Ceresco, NE; Bonner Springs, KS; and finally to North Platte in 1974. Grace and Harry had 65 wonderful years together. They raised five children and were foster parents to many others.
Grace was a resourceful and independent woman and an excellent role model. She was the foundation for the family while Harry was stationed in Antarctica and the West Indies. Grace had her own sewing business, she worked in manufacturing and was a nurse’s aide in a nursing home. In North Platte she learned to finish drywall for Mark V then started her own drywalling business. Grace also sold Avon and taught archery to the Boy Scouts and other young people and was a Campfire Leader and Cub Scout Leader. After retiring, Grace enjoyed being a volunteer for Living History, R.S.V.P. and the Food Pantry, loved doing calligraphy, and wrote to others as a Pen Pal.
Grace was an amazing woman and a great wife, mother and grandmother. When she wanted to drive, she taught herself. She loved to knit, do needle work and was a button collector who belonged to the National Button Society. In the kitchen, Grace was an adventurous cook and quite the baker. She will be missed in so many ways.
She leaves behind her husband, Harry, of North Platte; their children, Christine Roper, of Platte City, MO, Kathleen (Michael) Daniello, of Union City, CA, Daniel Spohn (Louise Cox), of Colorado Springs, CO, Joanne (Theodore) Hohman, of Rochester, NH, and Mary Spohn, of North Platte; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a great great-granddaughter; her sisters, Barbara (Gene) Booth, of Brighton, IA, and Beatrice Coover, of Marion, IA; brothers, George Davison, of Washington, IA, and Bob (Nancy) Davison, of Donnellson, IA; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents, John and Grace Davison; sisters, Ruth Dickinson, Mary Stone, Virginia Nash, Geneva Mabb Pailliotet, Gertrude Nash and baby Betty Davison; brothers, John and Dwight Davison; and son-in-law, Earl Roper.
Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with the Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Burial will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Food Pantry.
Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Visitation will be Monday, July 10, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.