Midlothian, VA – William O. Spichiger, 88, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2023, at Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center with family by his side. He was born March 20, 1935, in Hackensack, NJ, the son of Otto and Elsie (Hobi) Spichiger. Hi-lights from his early life include
his 1953 graduation from East Orange High School, East Orange, NJ, and in February 1957, being drafted into the US Army where he served for two years.
On September 2, 1961, he married the love of his life, Margrit (Wick), with whom he shared 61 wonderful years. During their first 16 years of marriage, Bill and Margrit welcomed 8 children - 6 boys and 2 girls. As their family grew, they moved from East Orange to Denville and finally to Byram township, NJ, where they settled for 45 years.
Bill’s career started at Prudential Insurance Company in Newark, NJ, where he faithfully worked for 13 years while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting, a goal he achieved in 1964. While in college, Bill was an active member of the Rutgers University Newman Club. Bill’s career eventually transitioned to M&M Mars in Hackettstown, NJ, where he was employed for 25 years before retiring as a cocoa buyer at the age of 57.
Life was BUSY for this family of 10! Bill was an attentive father and a long-time volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America as a council member for Patriot’s Path Council, Treasurer for Troop 151 in Byram Township, NJ, and merit badge counselor - staying on in that role long after his own boys had grown.
Bill’s dedication to service and to his religion was evidenced by his service as a CCD teacher, and later as the CCD principal for St Mary’s Catholic Church in Denville, NJ, as a Eucharistic Minister at Good Shepherd Church, Andover, NJ, and as a faithful, active member of the Knights of Columbus Don Bosco.
Their years together were filled with the joy of raising their children, welcoming grandchildren, welcoming a great grandchild, and traveling the world! In 2021, Bill and Margrit moved to Midlothian, VA.
Surviving, in addition to his wife Margrit and sister Betsy Smith of Lake Forest, CA, are six sons: James and wife Lynn of Newark, OH, Eric and wife Laura of Stamford, CT, Mitchell and wife Kathleen of Glen Rock, NJ, Daniel and wife Patricia of Annandale, NJ, John and wife Bernice of Midlothian, VA, Gregory and wife Jennifer of Fulshear, TX.; two daughters: Kimberly Häupel and husband Jens of Au in der Hallertau, Germany, Cynthia Weigel and husband Andreas of Butzbach, Germany; 25 grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
A service of remembrance will be held at 11am Saturday, July 1, 2023, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Powhatan, VA. Interment will be at Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia on a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice. |