William "Bud" Spreng

William “Bud” Spreng, 85, of Mentor passed away peacefully January 11, 2016 with his family by his side. He was born July 7, 1930 in Monroe, Michigan. Bud moved to Cleveland as an infant and was raised on a farm in Rocky River. After he graduated from Rocky River High School in 1948 he was drafted into the United States Army in April of 1951. Upon completion of his basic training at Fort Hood, he went to Korea in September of 1951. Once in Korea he became part of the 25th division, C Battery, 8th F.A. attached to the 27th infantry King Company. As a recon Sgt. and as a forward observer in the battles of Kumwha Valley, Heartbreak Ridge and Bloody Ridge, Bud earned a Bronze Star medal and three bronze battle stars. According to his superiors, “under heavy mortar and artillery fire, Bud maintained wire communications with his organization and directed precision artillery mortar fire against the enemy.” In 1984 while vacationing in Florida at his winter home, Bud joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5488 in Lake Worth, Florida where he became a life member. Once he was back in Mentor he transferred to Mentor VFW 9295 Post in 1993 where he held various offices. Elected Commander of the George E. Hayward VFW Post 9295 in 1997 and remained Commander until his retirement in 2015. Bud was a life member of The Military Order of the Cooties PupTent #92 which is an honor degree of the VFW. He was also a 32nd degree life member of the Masonic Order. Bud owned and operated Bud Spreng & Associates, which was a manufacturing rep. business, for 52 years. Survivors are his wife Verna Spreng; children Greg (Laurie) Spreng and Lisa (Don) Slaughter; step-children Nancy (Donald) Bowman, Larry (Faythea) Harpster Jr. and Linda (Paul) Bolton. He is also survived by 12 loving grandchildren; 18 loving great grandchildren and many other family members, friends and fellow soldiers. He was preceded in death by his father Norman Perry Spreng. A funeral service to honor Bud’s life will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor. The family will receive friends from 3-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be at Mentor Cemetery. In memory of Bud and in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland 44110-2602, donate online at www.hospicewr.org or to the Bible Community Church 8600 Lakeshore Blvd., Mentor, OH 44060. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com

William "Bud" Spreng

July 7, 1930 - January 11, 2016