Alice Spiegel (Bolivar)'s Obituary
On Wednesday, January 11th, 2023 at the age of 82, Alice Kay Spiegel, a beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully at St John’s Ascension Hospital in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Kay was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa on February 21st, 1940, to Gordon H. Anderson and Dorothy W. Wirtz. Kay’s life stands as a reflection of her favorite saying, “life is an adventure, not a destination.” Kay graduated from Sioux Rapids High School in 1958, where her lifelong passion for writing began as part of the school newspaper staff. Her words, “The Valley of beauty, on the highway of progress” are famously immortalized as the town motto of Sioux Rapids after winning a contest that also included a grand prize of $25 dollars.
As many good adventures go, Kay met many people along the way, the most important of which she
met during her time as a cheerleader. This man, Richard Spiegel, would become a permanent part of her journey on January 9, 1959, in Brunswick, Georgia. A military man, who was no stranger to adventure himself, Richard would give Kay three children Richard Kay, Tina Janine, and Julia Beth while they were stationed in San Diego, California.
As all military wives do, Kay managed the household while Richard served in Vietnam. In 1978, Richard retired from the Navy after 20 years of service and secured a job in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kay’s adventure brought her to a beautiful home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma where Kay worked at various businesses in the Tulsa area as an electronic technician. It is here, in Broken Arrow, her family titled her the “family historian.” Kay loved genealogy, an activity that incorporated her two biggest passions. Kay found inspiration and joy in uncovering and documenting the wonderful stories of the past. Through her genealogical work, Kay was able to not only preserve the stories of the older generations of her family, but she was also able to share all her wonderful work with her current and future family. She loved to share her findings with those around her at Spiegel family reunions, which were always well attended, due in part to her studious research.
Kay was blessed with 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. One of her final testimonies include that she trusted in God, and that she had no regrets in her life. She lived a wonderful life with a loving husband of 64 years and one day. While Kay has arrived at her final destination, her adventure carries on. She leaves behind a rich history, well documented through her thorough and enthusiastic writings about the one thing she loved most in life, her family.
Kay was proceeded in death by her parents Gordon and Dorothy Anderson, her father and mother in-law Lester and Edna Spiegel, daughter in-law Julie Dawn Spiegel, grandson Levi Richard Spiegel, brothers in-law Paul Spiegel and Earl Spiegel, sisters in-law Monte Spiegel and Georgeanna Spiegel, and nephew Scott McGregor.
Kay is survived by her husband Richard Spiegel, son Rick Spiegel, daughters Tina (Ralph) Stout and Julia (David) Brewer. Grandchildren Pina (Jacob) Mackey, Whitney (Cody) Spiegel, Curtis (Leslie) Bergeron, Elias (Bailey) Spiegel, Jennifer Brewer, Eryn (Ben) Smith, and Ryan Brewer, great-grandchildren Bryson and Seth Mackey, Evelynna, Malachi, Kendall, and Ayla Bergeron, sister Cheryl Dee (Jim) McGregor, brothers in-law Roger (Sharon) Spiegel and Bill (Jean) Spiegel and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Kay will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday January 20th, at Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar, Missouri. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday Jan 21st, at the First Assembly of God Church, Bolivar, Missouri. Burial will take place in the Greenwood Cemetery.
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