The funeral service for Earl Arland Spande of St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home, Albert Lea, will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home Chapel. Visitation with Earl&8217;s family will begin at noon Friday at the St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home Chapel.

Earl died Saturday, April 19, 2008, at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home. He was 92 years old.

Earl was born Sept. 20, 1915, in Newburg Township, Fillmore County, to Abbie and Minerva (Hage) Spande. He grew up at Mabel and graduated from Mabel High School in 1933. He married Linda Maxine Richards on Aug. 24, 1942. They settled in Mabel and moved in 2003 to Bancroft Creek Estates, Albert Lea. In 2005 Earl moved to Good Samaritan Center and then to St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home.

Earl

was a very active member of First Lutheran Church of Mabel. He co-owned and operated Mabel Motors and prior to World War II owned a gas station. He served in the United States Military during World War II. Earl belonged to the American Legion. He served on the Mabel Fire Department for 31 years and was fire chief for 21 years. Earl enjoyed gardening and woodworking. He also was an avid reader.

Earl is survived by three children: Dick Spande and his wife Beth of Albert Lea, Jane Spande and

her husband David Field of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and David Spande and his wife Robin of Owatonna; 10 grandchildren: Peter and Nathan Spande, Abby and Aubrey Field, Katie Spande, Jacob Kasel, Molly Kasel, Peter Kasel, Alison Dube and Sarah Opsahl; five great-grandchildren; sisters: Maxine Thompson of Sun City, Ariz., and Carmen Montgomery

and her husband Bruce of Shoreview;

sister-in-law: Bernice Richards of Caledonia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Earl is preceded in death by his wife Linda; and family members Ingvold and Ella Sanden, Nansen and Alta Spande, Chester Thompson and Robert (Bud) F. Richards.