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James Spacke


 

 

James ( Jim) Spacke, 78, of Mariposa, Calif., passed away peacefully at Saint Agnes Hospital, Fresno, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2018, with family by his side.

Jim was born June 25, 1939 in San Diego, Calif. He was the proud son of the late William and Mabel Spacke.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Terri Landy and husband Rick; son, Tony Spacke and wife Deanna; and son, Tim Spacke and wife Kathryn; sister Beverly Shetterly; brother Tom Spacke and wife Marian.

Jim had five grandchildren: Chassady Spacke, Jenna Landy, Robin Spacke, Dylan Spacke and Matt Spacke; five great-grandchildren: Makenzee Montgomery, Anthony Garza, Tawny Garza, JR Huskey, and Tucker Spacke; five nieces and one nephew.

Jim grew up in the Mulford Gardens area of San Leandro, Calif., where he met and married his high school sweetheart Penny Bates in 1957.

Jim worked for Conceco as a fine metal fabricator and welder where his family grew with the birth of his three children (Terri, Tony, and Tim). In 1973, Jim moved his family from the city rat race to Cathey’s Valley, Calif., to work with his dad and brother (Bill and Tom) at the Mariposa Flagstone Co. Slate Quarry. Not long after, Jim founded, owned and operated the very successful Mariposa Custom Fabricators, building fine custom cabinets until 1995.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman and loved water skiing, scuba diving, hunting, fishing, motorcycle riding and camping with longtime friends and family. He created the Oak Factory, a spinoff of his cabinet business in 1980 and married his second wife Maureen Cregan in 1981.

Jim was a past member of the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce and was part of the committee that was instrumental in bringing the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, 3/4 midget car races and tractor pulls to the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.

Jim retired in 2001 and was part of the Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association, enjoying gold panning and metal detecting.

A Memorial will be held sometime in April, when all of his beloved family and friends can attend.

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