MAY 4, 1934 – NOVEMBER 4, 2020
Laverne W. Spitz, 86, of Chandler, AZ, died November 4, 2020. “Vern” Spitz, son of Sylvester and Martha Spitz, loving husband of Carolyn Spitz, passed away peacefully at Columbine Commons Rehabilitation Center in Windsor, CO after succumbing to numerous health issues. Vern was born in Mendota, Illinois and raised on a farm with his 2 older brothers and 3 older sisters. Vern learned to hate chickens as food while living on the farm. After graduating from high school, Vern joined the US Air Force as a printer and met his wife Carol at a USO in Geneva, New York. Vern spent 20 years in the Air Force traveling the world with his wife and 3 sons.
They lived in Okinawa Japan, Paris France, and Stuttgart Germany. While in France and Germany, where Vern was attached to NATO, they regularly traveled to many of the surrounding countries making lasting memories. After returning to the United States, he was assigned to bases in Cheyenne, WY, Omaha, NE, and finally Westover, MA where he retired in 1973. Vern retired from the Air Force after 20 years as a Master Sargent and a veteran of the Korean, Vietnam, and Cold Wars. As the NCO of the base print shop, he used to say that “those B-52 bombers can’t leave the ground until they get my paperwork.” Upon retirement from the Air Force, Vern moved his family to Fort Collins, CO. Vern worked as a salesman for a commercial chemical company for a few years and then joined Curtis Industries traveling to all parts of northern Colorado, Southern Wyoming and western Nebraska via his beloved 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass. He retired from Curtiss Industries in 1994. Vern’s love of sports started in high school and was a big part of his life.
He helped coach his sons in baseball, football, and basketball as they were growing up and as his sons got older, he spent many nights and weekends officiating softball, baseball, basketball, and football for all age levels. His sons were not happy when Vern officiated their games because he was little tougher on them. He also had a boat for a few years that he used for water skiing and fishing. Once their sons left home, Vern and Carol continued their love of traveling. They purchased a truck and RV trailer and traveled the country every summer including spending time with their family in Northern Colorado. They would spend their winters in Mesa, AZ and made many friends along the way. Vern and Carol finally settled down after 10 years of RV-ing around the country and moved into the Sunbird Golf Resort in Chandler, AZ in 2004.
There they lived for 15 years and met many wonderful friends. They would regularly travel back to Colorado in the summer to visit family. While there, Vern developed a love of cribbage and bowling. Because of health issues, Vern and Carol moved back to Windsor, Colorado in November 2019. Vern was preceded in death by his son Thomas. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, and two sons William and Christopher. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Vern loved sports, traveling, fly fishing and especially his wife, sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
