PEABODY – Mr. William Frederick Sperr, 93, best known as Bill, died, April 5, 2025 at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to Kaplan Family Hospice House , C/O Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.

"You might not raise this child." the doctor informed baby Bill's parents shortly after his August 1, 1931 birth. But life unfolded differently. Bill lived until the ripe old age of 93, dying peacefully on Saturday, April 5, 2025 surrounded by love.

In more than one way, Bill lived an unexpected life. To care for Bill, his parents, Elizabeth (Evans) and Frederick Sperr, moved their young family over the mountain from Shenandoah, PA to the fresh air of Ringtown Valley in Pattersonville Township. There Bill cared for hundreds of chickens along with dozens of turkeys and ducks. He tended row upon row of meticulously grown Concord grapes, shoveled winter snow to clear a path to the outhouse and rode a bus to the local one-room school house. He laughed, argued and did chores alongside older brother Harold and older sister Emily (New), who along with Bill's parents, predeceased him. Bill fondly remembered playing a board game called "India". Once when a three-way quarrel erupted, Bill's mom used the board to whack each of the siblings over the head, breaking it on the third head. Our family still plays on the 85-year-old replacement board. His family worked hard six-days a week and worshipped God at the local Methodist church on Sundays. From family and church, Bill learned values of integrity, generosity and service that shaped the way he lived.

A student of people, Bill cared for others and delivered excellent service. In high school, he pedaled an ice cream cart in to various neighborhoods. He learned the names of his young customers as well as their favorite treats. Demand was most enthusiastic at dinner time, so that's when he came around. "Mr. Bill! Mr. Bill!" children happily called. They loved him! The moms…not so much.

Shortly after graduating high school, Bill joined the US Army. He was unexpectedly assigned to state-side active duty, supporting the Korean War effort in the Military Police. Bill's clean-living and respectful demeanor inspired his captain to transfer him to Transportation Corps to chauffeur for the colonel in charge of military affairs in the state of Minnesota. Bill found all kinds of ways to show the colonel the respect a high ranking military officer deserves and was "given some stripes." He proudly served his country for two years in unexpected ways, was discharged as a corporal, and moved into civilian life.

Jobs were not so plentiful in Ringtown Valley in November of 1954, so at the invitation of his brother, Bill moved to Rochester, NH, where life took another unexpected turn. Bill noticed a stunning beauty, Joanne Marie Doe, singing in the church choir. He was smitten. She was 16; he was 24. (If it had been one of our daughters, we would have run him off with a shotgun, but times were different then.) Joanne's mom was not easily won over. To warm her family to him, he shoveled their driveway after snow. The effort was not overly taxing, but he straightened up and rubbed his back every so often to increase their appreciation of his efforts. He took Joanne to her senior prom. Finally successful the third time he asked, they married in June, 1958. She was 19. They made a life together, in turn welcoming Bruce Jeffery, Cheri Lynn and Bonnie Lou (Veller) and moved to a 3-bedroom house complete with a front porch and generous yard in Needham, MA. He finished putting Joanne through college, a promise he made to Joanne's mother for her blessing on their marriage. And true to his character, he did more. He supported Joanne in earning a Master of Education, then a Masters +30, and finally a Certificate of Advance Graduate Studies (CAGS). Only a Ph D was beyond Joanne's CAGS. Bill was extremely proud of Joanne's capabilities and gladly supported her accomplishments.

M.G.M.S Parts and Associates in Cambridge, MA hired Bill for an unskilled position, but he wanted to do more. He started hanging around the parts department at busy moments to help counter staff fill customer orders, and thereby earned himself an official position at the counter. Then, because he was willing to stay late to help customers who walked in a few minutes before closing, he was given a key to lock up. Satisfied customers began requesting him by name. Within three short years he was promoted to parts department manager. When he delegated tasks and received compliments from upper management on a job well done, he always gave the responsible employee credit. His team loved him. Another example of the excellent service Bill delivered is the time-saving method he designed to enable repair people to efficiently obtain parts needed to complete residential and commercial service calls. You see, before there was Amazon Prime, there was "Bill's front porch." Service people could order washer machine agitators, temperature control units and whatever else they needed for next day's repairs. But instead wasting half a day driving to the city to pick up parts, Bill brought their orders home and put them on his front porch. Many a summer night the family would be eating dinner when through the front screen door we would hear the thud, thud of work boots on the porch and a gruff, "Thanks, Bill." "You're welcome, Tony (or whomever)!" Dad would reply. People loved working with him, and it's easy to see why. One day his boss took him out to dinner and, to his great surprise, presented him with new business cards that said, "Bill Sperr, Vice President of Internal Operations." Totally deserved, and totally unexpected.

There is so much more to Bill's life: a second career at a startup company eventually purchased by General Electric Healthcare, the move to Brooksby Village independent living with Joanne, the love of his life, standing by her throughout her unexpected 3-month battle with pancreatic cancer, and then making a new life on his own. He never expected to live these last 19 years without her.

In addition to his three children, Bill leaves behind six grandchildren of whom he is extremely proud: Kayleen, daughter of Bruce and Beth Sperr; Seth, Molly and Bryce William, children of Bonnie Veller; and Robb and Tori, children of Cheri Sperr and Rick Morgan. The talents and interests of these remarkable adults caused Bill to glow whenever he spoke of them. He also leaves behind two great grandchildren, Wesley and Austin, children of Robb and Claire Morgan. We are glad he was able to celebrate the arrival of both great-grand babies before he died.

Bill's life has been one surprise after another, full of unexpected experiences through which he influenced many people. We are blessed to have been part of Bill's life and to have experienced his love. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to Bill's funeral service which will be held at Community Covenant Church, 33 Lake St., Peabody, MA on Friday, April 11th at 6 P.M. Collation to follow in the church hall. Committal services with military honors will be held at Needham Cemetery, 128 Nehoiden St., Needham, MA on Saturday, April 12th at 11 A.M. All are invited. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (rte 62) DANVERS. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to Kaplan Family Hospice House , C/O Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com

To join's Bill's Funeral Service remotely please use this link or visit Community Covenant's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cccwpma/live_videos

Kaplan Family Hospice House
75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers MA 01923
Web: https://www.caredimensions.org/support-our-mission/ways-to-give/