Alvin (Aj) Spraley

Alvin (AJ) Spraley, age 96, of North Star Ohio, died on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville. He was born December 30, 1925 in Dayton to the late Robert & Mary (Grilliot) Spraley. He is preceded in death by his wife Rita L. (Hohl) Wenning-Spraley. He is survived by four step-children Margie (John) Heitbrink of McCartyville, Linda (Leo) Wehrkamp of North Star, Charlie Wenning of Conner, Montana and Tom Wenning of Asheville, NC; six grandchildren, Jessica (Jason) Howell, Jeanna (Jeff) Heitkamp, Gwenn (Michael) Barga, Shawn (Georgia) Wehrkamp, Alyssa (Jacob) DeMange and Sara (Mike) Brenner; 28 great-grandchildren; a sister, Velma Rice of Dayton; a brother-in-law Martin Hohl of Centerville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by a stepson Joe Wenning, a great-grandchild, siblings and in-laws, John (Evelyn) Spraley, James (Melba) Spraley and Bernie Rice. Alvin first went to North Star Elementary, graduated from Versailles High School in 1944, attended the University of Dayton and Wright State University and received degrees in Civil engineering and geology. Alvin was a wartime veteran of WW II serving in the Army Air Corps and a recipient of the Purple Heart for permanent injuries received in European Theatre of Operations. He was a lifetime member of the Darke County Chapter 57 of the Disabled American Veterans, member and past commander of the North Star American Legion and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Greenville. Alvin was a civil engineer for the Ohio Department of Transportation in Sidney and a private surveyor. Alvin served the community of North Star as Mayor 1953-1957, as Police Chief (Constable) 1957-2012, he was a founding member of the fire department serving from 1949-2009 and on the rescue squad from 1949-1975. He was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church, the Men’s Holy Name and the Coldwater Eagles. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at St. Louis Catholic Church, North Star. Burial will follow with military rites in St. Louis Cemetery, North Star. Friends may call on Wednesday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater and on Thursday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at St. Louis Church. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.