Leonard Vetter
Leonard Vetter

Obituary of Leonard Harold Vetter

RUTH (WOOD) (SPRING) VETTER………………November 18, 1923 to January 31, 2008 CAPTAIN LEONARD HAROLD VETTER……………………June 23, 1921 to May 16, 2007 Born June 23, 1921 in Kulm, North Dakota. Leonard was the sixth of ten children born to parents Edward Vetter and Emelia Konrad Vetter. Leonard worked and played on the family farm along side his four brothers and five sisters. In 1939, at the age of 18, Leonard and his closet brother (and best friend) Richard, joined the United States Army where they fought in various areas of Europe from 1939 to 1945. After returning from the war, Leonard met and married his first wife, Vera Reynolds. Together they lived in the Lake City area of Seattle and had one son, Larry Vetter. Leonard went to work for Foss Tug where he fell in love with sailing the seas from Seattle to Alaska to the Orient. Leonard was a proud Captain who took the responsibilities to his crew and tug boat very seriously. Safe passage, teamwork, and a great cook on board at all times were crucial in arriving to their destination on time. We will all cherish and remember the many stories of life on the sea that Leonard so proudly shared with us all. At Leonard’s request he was cremated and his ashes were committed to the sea by his step-daughter, Paula, and her husband, David, in his beloved Puget Sound from the deck of a Foss Tug boat. Following a military ceremony at the Tahoma National Cemetery, in Kent, Washington, a memorial plaque was placed in his memory/honor. A family gathering of remembrance and a celebration of Leonard’s life was held at his sister, Vi Sweeney’s home on what would have been Leonard’s 86th birthday, June 23, 2007. Leonard was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Emelia (Konrad) Vetter, and his siblings: Eunice, Johnny, Theodore ‘Teddy’, Edward, his first wife Vera (Reynolds) Vetter and many extended family members and friends. Eight months after Leonard’s passing his beloved wife, Ruthie, passed away, and the following month his brother, Richard, passed away. Leonard is survived by his son, Larry Vetter (Kathi Garcia), Mukilteo, Washington; step-daughter, Paula Jo (Spring) Brenner (David), Seattle, Washington; step-son, Douglas P. Spring (Staci), Gig harbor, Washington; the grandest grandson Eric Douglas Spring, Gig Harbor, Washington; his four sisters; Adelia ’Dee’ Moen, Everett, Washington; Vi Sweeney, Lacey, Washington; Irene Shoemaker (Jim), Kathlamat, Washington; Jane Miller (Jim), Lynnwood, Washington; and many other extended family and friends. RUTH (WOOD) (SPRING) VETTER………………November 18, 1923 to January 31, 2008 Born November 18, 1923 in Seattle, Washington to parents Joseph Sherman Wood and Edna ‘Ruth’ (Alloway) Wood, and little sister to big brother (and best friend) Carson ‘Kit’ Wood. Ruth graduated from Queen Anne High School class of 1942. During these times, she spent many days and hours writing to and receiving letters from her beloved brother, Kit, who was in the Air Force, flying in Europe, during World War II. She was overcome with grief and sadness with the news of his shot down plane in June of 1943. Ruth lived her entire life in the greater Seattle area. In her youth she loved the outdoors and made several trips to Mt. Rainier where skiing and hiking were a favorite past time. Growing up she faced many challenges: a blind father, divorced parents (at a young age), and then the loss of her brother. Through all this adversity, she stayed positive and passionate about finding adventure, happiness, love, and her greatest desire, to have children. When she met and married her first husband, Raymond Heath, they had plans to start a family right away. In their first six years together, she had four baby boys that did not survive the pregnancies and/or birth. Although the marriage ended, through these hard times and sadness Ruth’s desire and determination to have children remained strong. As life moved on Ruth then met and fell in love with Robert ‘Bob’ Spring. They were married in 1954 and in the summer of 1955, her first child, a son, Douglas Paul, was born. Two summers later, 1957, her second child, a daughter, Paula Jo, was born. Although the marriage ended in divorce her love and devotion for her son and daughter was unwavering. She was our mother first. She loved us unconditionally. She raised us to be strong, and independent. She worked hard for many years in the real estate industry and then her desire for adventure and travel eventually led her to the travel industry where she worked as a travel agent until her retirement. Making our home a safe and loving place was her number one job. We thank you mom for all your love, support, the sacrifices you made for our family, and the treasured memories that will stay with us always. At Ruth’s request, she was cremated. Her life long wishes, that she shared with us many times, was that she wanted her ashes to be laid to rest in her beloved brothers military grave at the Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery. From the time I was a little girl and in her last year of life, we spoke of this most important and emotional wish. This promise made has been met. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, Joseph Sherman and Edna ‘Ruth’ (Alloway) Wood, her brother and best friend Carson ‘Kit’ Wood, and her first husband, Raymond Heath and many extended family members and friends. Ruth is survived by her son, Douglas Paul Spring (Staci), Gig Harbor, Washington; daughter, Paula Jo (Spring) Brenner (David), Seattle, Washington; step-son, Larry Vetter (Kathi Garcia), Mukilteo, Washington; and her beloved grandest grandson, Eric Douglas Spring, Gig Harbor, Washington; and many other extended family and friends. LEONARD AND RUTHIE’S journey began in January 1984.…………………………. at Claire’s Pantry, a restaurant, in the Lake City area of Seattle. Both had been on their own for years, their children grown. Although this Captain of the seas and this independent woman were both set in their ways it was obvious, they both longed for the companionship and love they had been missing. As they experienced a new love they learned new ways of communicating, sharing, respecting and loving each other so they could share a fulfilling life together. Their desire for a lasting relationship guided them and gave them strength to endure the challenges of this new relationship. One year later, Leonard asked Ruthie to marry him, and she said yes!! They took a trip to Reno, Nevada, and on February 19, 1985, they were married. They spent the next 22 years and 3 months together traveling; watching old movies, old TV shows, and their favorite teams the Seattle Mariners and the Seahawks. They had many family members and friends for each other to meet and these family members and friends kept them busy driving from place to place all over the greater Seattle area and beyond. Together, as they moved around the Pacific Northwest, they had a fun and adventurous spirit that made each house they lived in a warm and welcoming home. They even moved and spent one year in Mesa, Arizona, however, it proved a little too hot and too many miles from their only grandchild and they moved back to Washington. Many of us reaped the benefits of Leonard’s handyman abilities (especially his brother & sisters). He could fix almost anything. We will also cherish and be thankful for his talent of building furniture and the wonderful pieces that keep him in our thoughts everyday. Thank you both for everything you gave to all of us; the love, the laughter, the memories that we will all carry on and for the courage, gracefulness, humor and respect you had and shared with us in your end of life moments. We love you mom and pop. Sometimes, words are hard to find to express one’s true feelings. A ‘BIG’ thank you to a very special family: In December of 2006, Leonard and Ruthie moved into an Adult Family Home located in University Place, Washington (Tacoma) where there, together, they spent their final months of life. In the beginning, a very painful and emotional move for them both. These feelings and emotions were met by a professional; a compassionate caregiver; a mother; a wife; a humanitarian; whose heart is as big as the world and who says and means ’welcome home’ when you arrive. A woman; who is filled with love, understanding, nurturing, patience, dignity and respect for the individuals she welcomes as a member of her family. We thank you, thank you, thank you, Mayra. We also thank your family: Fernando, Vicky, and Alfredo, (and Dolly, too!). You will always be a member of our family and we will love you always. As my heart aches to find the right words ‘thank you’ seems so trite. Our wishes of goodwill, happiness, good health and prosperity for you and your family reach beyond the stars. God bless you and your family. Paula (Spring) and David Brenner Doug, Staci and Eric Douglas Spring Larry Vetter and Kathi Garcia All friends and family: please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear from you. Paula (Spring) Brenner: phone # 206-913-9951 or email: icpugetsound@comcast.net
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