John Lawrence Spiegel

John Lawrence Spiegel, 86, of Viola, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at Mercer County Hospital, Aledo. Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola. Burial is at Rock Island National Cemetery with graveside military rites. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. He was born Jan. 9, 1925, in Kewanee, the son of John A. and Ada Bell Foster Spiegel. He married Hazel R. Bailey on Aug. 17, 1951, in Kewanee. He later married Mary Doyle on May 6, 1989, in Bettendorf. He was a construction supervisor at the Arsenal for more than 20 years, retiring in 1988. Mr. Spiegel was a master carpenter and cabinet maker and truly enjoyed woodworking. He built the Evangelical Covenant Church, Kewanee, where he was a member. His greatest love was flying. He learned how to fly from Cole Brothers Flying Circus, Kewanee. He was a member of EAA, Grassroots Flying Club and 70 Knotters. He took several flying trips in his 1942 J3 Cub across Canada and the United States. He was proud to have been able to be a part of the Honor Flight on Oct. 10, 2009. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II from 1943 to 1946, serving in China and India. John was a member of the Viola VFW and Viola and Aledo American Legions. Survivors include his wife, Mary Spiegel, Viola; daughters (and spouse), Ruth Birmingham, Geneseo, and Karen (John) Whisker, Orion; son, Forrest "Butch" Johnson, Talladega, Ala.; grandchildren, Jason Schneblin, Troy Johnson, Margo Arthur, Keri Barr and Laci Birmingham; five great-grandchildren; three stepchildren and 10 stepgrandchildren from his second marriage; and sister, Esther Chamberlain, Morris, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ray Spiegel; and daughter-in-law, Suzanne Johnson