Clarence William Spann, age 91, passed away on November 4, 2013. Affectionately known as Babe, he was born in Chicago, on October 27, 1922, to Clarence and Helen Spann, their second son, second of six children.

He attended and graduated from O. A. Thorp grammar school and then continued his education and graduated from Steinmetz High School, in 1940.

Babe attended Wilbur Wright City College for one year, and by this time our country was involved in World War II. He was drafted into the United States Army, in December, 1942, and took his boot camp training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. He was assigned to the Army Engineers 77th Division, serving in the Pacific Theater for over three years, which included jungle/amphibious training for D-Day on Guam, four months fighting to regain the Philippines, Ie Shima, where the famous war correspondent, Ernie Pyle was killed, then on to Okinawa and fought in the Kerama Rettos, a very strategic battle, and the invasion of Hiroshima. He received five battle gold stars. During his military experience he served as a T/5 technical Corporal, being discharged at the end of December 1945.

He was employed at Moody Bible Institute in the colportage division after the war. Then the G. I. Bill was passed and Babe chose to attend Roosevelt College, down on Michigan Avenue, graduating with a bachelors degree in 1950. He worked at Cardwell Westinghouse from 1950 to 1957 and then taught elementary school at John Leigh in Norridge until 1982. Babe had a carpet cleaning business on the side, having learned that trade from Servicemaster in sales from 1957 to 1960.

Babe attended Grace Gospel Tabernacle, along with his parents and siblings. In October 1930, during the annual children's meetings, under the leadership of two laymen, Gustafson and Johnson, called THE SUNSHINE DUO, Babe accepted Christ as his personal Savior.

Babe met Shirley Alice Nilsson at a baseball game, thru the Fundamental Young People's Fellowship, also known at FYPF, and they were married at Lockwood Bible Church on August 28th, 1948. The Lord gave them three children, Linda Lee born April 10th, 1957, and one and one half years later, Shirley gave birth to twin boys, Barry Alan and Terry Lee on August 29th, 1958.

Babe enjoyed music, singing tenor in the church choir for many years and he played a mandolin with a group called "The Westerners." He also played the violin with "The Pickers and Grinners", this group was from Bensenville Bible Church.

Shirley experienced failing health and went Home to Heaven to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ in October of 2005.

Babe married Violeta Gamon on December 5, 2008.

Clarence William "Babe" Spann is remembered by his wife, Violeta V. Spann, his children, Linda (Randy) Fuhrman, Barry Spann, Terry (Laurie) Spann, and Jason, Robert and Charlene Gamon, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by four siblings, John (Florence) Spann, Ruth (the late Hal) Freeman, Esther (the late Harry)Pikel, and Naomi (the late John) Ketchik, sister-in-law, Joel Spann, and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Shirley and brother, James.

A visitation will be held on Monday, November 11, 2013 from 9:30 to 11 am at Bethel Community Church, 7601 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60656 where a funeral service will follow at 11:00 A.M. Interment will take place at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois on Tuesday, November 12 at 10:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Bethel Community Church.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.

May God teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Psalm 90:12