Obituary of Wilma L. Spyker

Spyker, Wilma L. Freeland, Michigan Wilma Lucille Spyker passed from this world to the next Saturday, October 10, 2020. She made her transition at her home in Ingersoll Township with family by her side. Wilma was born May 21, 1931 to John and Fern (Graham) Retherford in Midland. She was predeceased by her father John; mother, Fern; brother, Jim; sister-in-law, Pauline; daughter-in-law, Darlene Spyker; and her husband of sixty-seven years, Duane. Wilma is survived by her sister, Shirley (Ken) Polakowski; brother, Chuck (Pat) Retherford; her children, Dan Spyker of Detroit, Jon Spyker of Freeland, Julie (Alan) Paulus of Bay Village, Ohio, David Spyker of Bay City, Brian (Sandra) Spyker of Freeland, Nancy (Kirk) Hall of Midland, and Arata Watanabe of Alpharetta, Georgia. In addition, she leaves 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and hundreds of others whose lives she touched during her time on this earth. Wilma retired in 1996 after 21 years as the art teacher at Bullock Creek Middle School. She remained active as a volunteer for a variety of organizations until illness confined her to her home. The family would like to thank all those who assisted in her care, including her long-term caregiver Trisha and especially Nurse Nicole from Heartland Hospice for the skill, kindness and compassion she shared during Mom's final days. A memorial service is planned for a later date. Those considering an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions to Heartland Hospice of Bay City, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (Dementia), 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia PA 19406, www.theaftd.org or 1-866-507-7222, or the charity of the donor's choice. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com Arrangements made with Cremation Society of Mid-Michigan, 1-989-892-1772 Mom grew up in Midland on Poseyville road near the Ashby Store. In her final years she could still point out the houses where she delivered the Midland Daily News as a young girl or babysat for neighbor's children. She started school at the newly constructed Bullock Creek Elementary School and later attended Midland High School. Upon graduation in 1949 she married her high-school sweetheart Duane, and embarked on what became a 67 year voyage of marriage. Her children all remember the smell of Mom's fresh-baked bread filling the house. However, it seemed that she could never bake it as fast as we could eat it. Once her youngest child entered first grade Wilma chose to take the road less traveled and enrolled at Delta College. She ultimately found her calling in art education, receiving a Bachelors of Education from Saginaw Valley State University in 1974 and eventually earned two Masters degrees as her career progressed. Mom began her teaching career at the recently opened Bullock Creek Middle School in 1975 and taught art there until her retirement in 1996. She had a gift for instilling an appreciation for art in her students, including many teenage boys who were certain they would never enjoy art class. She provided a supportive environment for her students that gave them the confidence to explore new ways to express themselves at a critical point in their lives. In addition to teaching, Wilma also produced wonderful works of art in many different mediums, exhibiting and offering them for sale at art festivals and shows throughout the state for many years. In later years ill health limited her activities as an artist but still allowed her to pursue her lifelong passion as a reader, devouring books at an astonishing rate. The family is comforted knowing that she is reunited with her Mum and Dad, her husband, and family that have already transitioned and that Mom's memories and physical health are now restored to her and she is free and able to explore all the wonders of her new life. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com