Kenneth E. Sprunger
Kenneth Earl Sprunger, 96, of Berne passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at Swiss Village in Berne, just two days before his 97th birthday. He was born on August 29, 1920 in Monroe Township to Joel and Clara (Ellenberger) Sprunger. He was married on January 31, 1953 to Ruth Genevieve (Jean) Strickler Augsburger, and they honeymooned in Florida and Havana, Cuba.
Drafted into the Army in August 1942, he was an observer and spotter at Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. His service also took him to the Aleutian Islands of Adak and Great Sitkin and was eventually discharged January 4, 1946. He began taking flying lessons at Brigham Field in Portland and received his pilot’s license in January 1948.
He started a lifelong carpentry career at his Uncle Leo Sprunger’s construction company managing their cabinet shop, later moving on to W.E. Reusser Lumber Company as a finish carpenter. After retiring from Reusser’s, he worked on his own until 2004. He was a master craftsman who could build just about anything out of wood.
He was also known for his love of flowers, especially roses, and in his later years his cactus whose flowers everyone admired.
He had a love for traveling and has been in every state in the United States, along with Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. For a time, he delivered motor homes for Fleetwood as far away as California. In November 2010, he took the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. with several area men who served in WWII.
He is survived by his daughter, CeAnn (Tex) Weaver of Berne; daughter-in-law, Barbara Augsburger of Leo; sister, Deloris (Virgil) Sprunger of Swiss Village; two grandsons, Dean Augsburger of Leo-Cedarville; and Brendan Weaver of Berne; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; step-son, Alan (Barb) Augsburger; two brothers, Arley (Irene) Sprunger; and Merlin W. (Berniece) Sprunger; sister, Lavera Sprunger; infant brother and sister; and wife, Mary Spielman Sprunger.
Visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30 and one hour prior to the 10:30 a.m. funeral service on Thursday, August 31 in the Swiss Village Auditorium in Berne. Officiating will be Pastor Mike Wertenberger.
Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church and Gideon’s International.
Arrangements provided by Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne. Sign the guest book online at www.yagerkirchhofer.com.