Father John Spatt, C.PP.S. (1917-2011)

Father John Spatt, C.PP.S., died on Friday, December 9, in the infirmary at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio. He was 93.

He was born December 31, 1917, in Detroit, to Frank and Martha (Skelnick) Spatt. He entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1933 and was ordained on May 9, 1943.

Fr. Spatt spent most of his life as a priest in parish ministry. He served at Holy Name Church in Detroit; Christ the King in Superior, Wisconsin; St. Mary's Church, Rhinelander, Wisconsin; Precious Blood Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana; St. Peter Church in Alvada, Ohio; and St. Anthony Church in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1954, he was named a chaplain of St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City, Kansas. He returned to parish ministry in 1959, when he was appointed pastor of Christ the King Parish in Wakeeney, Kansas. He was pastor of St. Augustine Church in Minster, Ohio, from 1963-73, when he became pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Montezuma, Ohio. During that time he also served in the leadership of the Congregation.

Fr. Spatt became pastor of St. Mary Church in Philothea, Ohio, in 1983. In 1990, poor health forced his retirement to St. Charles, where he made his home for the past 21 years.

Fr. Spatt is survived by his sister, Margaret Tromblay, Warren, Michigan, and by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Agnes Spatt and Sr. Mary Judith Spatt, SND; and by three brothers, Paul, Albert and Anthony.

A quiet, mild-mannnered man, Fr. Spatt loved the priesthood, said his friend and house director, Fr. James Seibert, C.PP.S. He was grateful to God for his vocation as a Missionary of the Precious Blood.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Tuesday, December 13, at 2 p.m. at St. Charles Center, Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S., presiding. Burial followed in the Community cemetery.