Herbert A. Spence, Jr.

Spence, Herbert A. Jr. Saginaw, Michigan Passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at his home at the age of 84 years. He was born April 15, 1930 in Saginaw to the late Herbert A. Spence Sr. and Donna Kelly Spence. He married Mary Drury Holmes on August 15, 1953 and she survives him. Herbert A. Spence Jr. began his distinguished career with Spence Brothers in 1945 as a part-time summer laborer in Grayling. After his graduation from University of Michigan in 1953, Herb worked full time in and on the family business until 1990. Herb was the senior member of the third generation of the Spence office and was the estimator and project manager for hundreds of major projects throughout his 45-year career, including the $35 million Ann Arbor Wastewater Treatment Plant, the company's largest contract of his generation. He served as company president for 11 years. He was completely dedicated to whatever he was given and worked long days and nights for decades. Toward the end of his career, Herb became equally dedicated to community service as the volunteer executive director of Habitat for Humanity, which began taking root in Saginaw in the late 1980s. He tried to work both fulltime jobs for a few years, until he decided to retire early at age 61 to lead Habitat day and night for another decade. He made an incredible impact on Spence Brothers, his industry and his community, and was awarded the prestigious Spirit of Saginaw award from the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce in 1996. He was also inducted into the Michigan Construction Hall of Fame in 2010. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church where he served as Senior Warden, Vestry, lay reader and Eucharistic minister. He was a former member of both the Saginaw Country Club and the Saginaw Club. Surviving besides his wife, Mary, are three sons and one daughter and their spouses, Herbert A. Spence III (Kathi), Saginaw; Amy S. Konkle and her husband the Rev. Fr. John Konkle, Rives Junction, Michigan; John Rexford Spence (Maureen), Clifton Park, NY; Steven Matthew Spence, Saginaw; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (J.J.) Boehm, Herbert Spence IV (Colleen), Michael Spence, Sage Morley, Jeremiah and Jared Konkle, Erin Spence, and Bryan Spence; two great-grandsons, Christian Joseph Boehm and Dylan Herbert Spence; three brothers, William Spence, Douglas Spence and Rodney Spence; many nieces and nephews; his former daughter-in-law, Lori Spence. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Spence, and an infant sister, Carolyn. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014 at St. John's Episcopal Church, 123 N. Michigan Ave. The Rev. Fr. Daniel Cannon will officiate with burial in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family at the W. L. Case and Company Funeral Chapel, 4480 Mackinaw Rd., from 3:00 7:00 p.m. Friday. They may also visit at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider St. John's Episcopal Church or Saginaw Habitat for Humanity http://saginawhfh.org/

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company Mackinaw Funeral Chapel
4480 Mackinaw Road
Saginaw, MI
US 48603