John Spiller Jr.
John Spiller Jr.
John Spiller Jr.
John Spiller Jr.
John Spiller Jr.
John Spiller Jr.

Obituary of John Spiller Jr.

John “Pete” Spiller, born September 26, 1935, in Wenatchee, Wash., to John Spiller and Alyce (McNamara) Spiller, died at home on January 21, 2021.  He attended Odea High School and the University of Washington in Seattle, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and graduated from St. Martin’s College in Olympia.  In 1959, Pete married Judith Ryan and had two sons, Ryan and Samuel.  Following a career start in the insurance field in Yakima and Seattle, Pete moved to Olympia, where he served as Executive Director of the Washington Fire Commissioners Association from 1979 to 2009. He worked tirelessly to identity and present the needs of the State’s fire districts to the Legislature, to secure and protect their funding, and provide commissioners and their staff educational opportunities. He was the catalyst in the development of the Association’s successful self-funded healthcare program for the districts, and served as its manager until he retired.

 

In 1989, Pete married Joanne “Jan” Huot and has held her four children and offspring as family during the nearly 32 years of their marriage. In retirement, Pete volunteered weekly at an American Lake Veterans Center’s health care facility, where he enjoyed visiting, reading and playing cards with vets, even organizing day trips to the M-Bar-C Ranch on Whidbey Island.  Pete loved the M-Bar-C, the cowboys, annual trail ride, and helping disabled veterans ride no matter the challenge.

 

Pete is survived by his wife, Jan; his beloved sons, Ryan and his wife, Liz, and their children, Molly, Jake and Jona; Sam and his children, Kallin and Justin; Jan’s children, Denise (Mark) Pedersen, Deb Sabatte, Janine (Al) Caspillo and Deanne Sabatte; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; siblings, Joan Spiller Saxton and Thomas Spiller (Tamara); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Mitzi Spiller Stewart and Kathleen Spiller Woodside.

 

Pete was a man of wit, humor and wisdom, of few words but always good words.  He was a doer, not a talker.  His generosity and love for life gave us all a treasured brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.  A gathering to share memories of Pete will be held in COVID-safe times ahead.

 

Tribute Remembrances may be made to M-BAR-C Ranch, P. O. Box 1103, Freeland, WA 98249.

 

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