It is with great sadness we announce the passing of James (Jim) N. Spaeth on September 29, 2016. Jim was born and raised in Kansas City, MO to Ervin F. and Violet Spaeth and grew up with five brothers and three sisters. He attended Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School, Northeast High School and Junior College.

During World War II, Jim came to Oklahoma City with his family for construction work at Tinker Field and then joined the U.S. Navy. Before shipping out to serve in the South Pacific on Ebeye Island in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands., Jim met Patsey Davis in Oklahoma City. Jim married the love of his live on Feb. 8, 1944, in Los Angeles while Jim was stationed in San Diego serving in the Navy. They were separated as Jim continued to serve our country stationed on the Ebeye Island of Kwajalein Atoll in Marshall Islands. The couple reunited after the war in Kansas City where they lived for a few years before returning to OKC.

After the war, Jim and his brother Bud returned to Kansas City, MO to reopen their Dad’s shop, and continued with business operating as Kansas City Plumbing & Heating Co., while their Dad stayed in Oklahoma City and continued with the contracting business and preparing the business for those who were serving in the armed forces during World War II.

In 1948 Jim’s Dad asked him and his brother Bud to return from Kansas City and to close the shop there for good, as his health wasn’t good. Also, at this time, he asked the Paul and Ervin L. to come into the business as well as Roy Heffley. At this time the family members along with Ervin would continue to build the business into what it is today

Jim and Patsey raised 5 children, all of whom attended St. Patrick Catholic School and Northwest Classen High School. Jim and Patsey were married for over 68 wonderful years. They loved dancing, traveling, bowling, playing cards and entertaining family and friends. They raised a family of five children. After the war, Jim joined his father and brothers at Spaeth, Inc. and worked with them until his retirement in 1986. Jim was awarded lifetime memberships in the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers and the Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors.