Michelle Spaeth, age 76, native Hawaiian, former resident of also California, Texas, Utah, and lastly Marysville, Ohio, died February 11, 2023 in Delaware, Ohio with her devoted husband by her side.
As Michelle’s loving father aptly described her, she was dubbed “Big Time” in infancy by her doting grandfather, a sobriquet she lived up to, rarely acquiescing to second best, uncompromising about goals once set.
She was a cheerful, optimistic extrovert and positive thinker, dedicated to the role of wife and homemaker for 56 years for Helmut Spaeth and their children Eugene and Andreas of Washington, Christian (Cassandra) of Marysville, Ohio, Johannes (Stacy) of California, Helmut “Keoki” of California, Alika (Samantha) also of Washington, and Angelika of Nevada; grandmother to 13, including two bonus grandchildren from Vietnam; great-grandmother to one; exemplary sister to Yvonne Thompson and sisters-in-law Maggie Joy, Sue Joy, and Marianne Diesterheft; and dear aunty to many nephews and nieces.
Michelle is described also as compassionate servant of those in need anywhere she encountered them, including her students when instructional assistant in California and Utah; and spiritual pioneer, first in her family to discover, recogize, and embrace in Texas Christ’s Restored Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
All are welcome to join the celebration of Michelle’s life at her funeral, in person or by broadcast by request to ckspaeth@gmail.com for an online link, March 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Marysville, Ohio.
Preceded in death by parents, Foreman Reed Thompson and Yvonne Kehaunani Bartels, and siblings George Elmer Joy, Robert Joy, and Marie (Lauren) Anderson, they and innumerable kinfolk Michelle knew, even through her dedicated independent family history research for decades and as Family History Missionary for four years, are joyfully welcoming Michelle “home.”