Posted by Holly A. Smith on December 22, 2008:

Alsperger, Eugene Joseph (Major, U.S.A.F., Retired) (Gene/Paw/Dad) Age 78 Dad passed away December 11, 2008. He was born January 23, 1930, to Joseph and Marie Alsperger in Chicago, Illinois. Dad attended high school in Grayslake, Illinois where he met his future beloved wife, Betty. After high school, Dad accepted an appointment to West Point Military Academy graduating in 1954. Dad and Mom lived in many places in the U.S. and England as part of his Air Force career. During the Viet Nam War, he served as radar navigator aboard the AC-130 Spectre Gunship and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Clusters for his bravery. Dad retired from the Air Force as a navigator in B-52 Bombers. He then moved to Spokane with Mom and their four kids. They built their dream house in the middle of a 200 tree apple orchard in the Spokane Valley. Dad was his own contractor on the house and supervised every aspect of construction with his typical perfectionism. He took his abandoned orchard and tirelessly nurtured the trees back to life, eventually producing more than 6 tons of apples annually. He refused to sell the apples, preferring instead to give to admiring passers-by and the Second Harvest Food Bank. Dad enjoyed woodworking and he could also make any type of "doohickey" to fix a problem. He was meticulous in everything he did. Some of his favorite pastimes were golfing, fishing, racquetball and building and flying model airplanes. Preceded in death by his wife, Betty, in 2007, Dad will be dearly missed by his children and their families: Susan Alsperger, Mike & Jackie Alsperger, Holly & Craig Smith and Kurt & Lorie Alsperger all of Spokane; His grandchildren, Scott, Airman First Class Michael and Kimber Alsperger; His brother Ken Alsperger of FL; His sisters-in-law, Jane Alsperger of FL and Nancy Frear of CA. Dad also will be greatly missed by his neighbors. His children would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to everyone at Sacred Heart Medical Center CICU for their care and support. A memorial service will be held for Gene on Saturday, December 27, 2008 at Valley Open Bible Church, 905 N. McDonald Road, Spokane Valley at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers Gene's family requests that donations be made in his name to Second Harvest Food Bank, 1234 E. Front Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202, or Union Gospel Mission, 1224 E. Trent Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202.

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