William Spere

William Irving Spere beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather & friend returned home to his Heavenly Father Sunday, February 26, 2006 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer?s and cancer. He was born June 9, 1919 in Salt Lake City to William I & Anna Peterson Spere. In his youth he worked in his father?s business of Spere Tent & Awning. Bill attended South High, the University of Utah and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. During World War II he served as a seaman and officer in the Merchant Marine. After the war he returned to Salt Lake where he met and married his sweetheart Jean Young Dorton on May 21, 1927, the marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Bill started his career at Pacific National Assurance Company where he eventually became Vice President & Director of Agencies. When Madsen Navigation purchased Pacific National, he went to work for Ideal National Insurance Company where he later served as President and a member of the Board of Directors. During his tenure as President of Ideal National he was asked by the Insurance Commissions of the states of Washington and Missouri to serve as acting president of two additional insurance companies that were failing and he was able to salvage. Bill was a past member of Kiwanis International, served as President of the Salt Lake Chapter and also served on the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army. In his later years he worked for American Express and the University of Phoenix. Bill was a faithful member of the LDS Church and served in many different capacities. He loved serving in the Bishopric of the Holladay 7th Ward, on the High Council of the Mount Olympus Stake and the 20th Ward Bishopric of Eagle Gate Stake. One of the greatest joys of his life was serving as a temple worker in the Salt Lake Temple. He was a brilliant man, whose humility, integrity, sense of humor, genuine love, care & concern for others not only made him a great leader but a true disciple of Christ. His enthusiasm for life, his little pep talks, the constant support for his wife, children, grandchildren and friends, those hats, that infamous smile and his amazing sense of humor will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His main concern was always for his wife Jean. He is survived by his loving wife Jean, son Bill Tricia, daughter Connie Brown, daughter-in-law Kim Spere, 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Hope Stevens and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Steve Spere and son-in-law Larry Brown. We appreciate the dedication, constant care and service of the staff at Orchard Cove. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 2, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the West Bountiful 5th Ward Chapel, 840 North 800 West. Friends and family may call Wednesday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main and Thursday morning 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment-Salt Lake City Cemetery. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com.