Erika Marianne Allen

Erika Marianne Spicer (nee Gré¼ndig), 82, married August 16, 1961, to John Austin Spicer to Erika Marianne Allen, married to Vernon Charles Allen, June 4, 1982. Born October 2, 1934 in Eibenberg (Kemtau), Germany to Karl Richard Gré¼ndig and Liddy Marianne Gré¼ndig (nee Hergl), beloved mother of Cynthia Spicer (Richard Radliff), Michael Spicer (Catrina) and Marilynn Spicer Hughes (Andrew), loving grandmother of Cameron Spicer, Courtney Spicer, Melissa Hughes Steaves, Mary Hughes and Jacob Hughes, dear great grandmother of Anna and Zoey Steaves, sister of Werner Gré¼ndig (Regina), niece and nephew, Birgit and René. Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at Evans Funeral Home in Milford, OH from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM.

Erika was only five years old in Eastern Germany when her father had to leave to fight in World War II. She was eleven when her father returned unexpectedly on the train and ran up to surprise her. The difficult times had only begun as they now had to live under Russian occupation. A potato famine ensued, but she learned to live off the land, identify edible mushrooms and other wildly growing eatables in the woods. When she grew up, she moved to work in West Germany before the Wall went up. She worked as a teller and a florist. She married John A. Spicer and emigrated to American in 1962 and had three children in 1962, 1963 and 1965. After divorcing in 1978, she married Vernon Charles Allen in 1983 and was happily married until he died on Valentine's Day in 2003. Erika loved walking in the woods, gardening, cooking, sewing, crocheting, and making friends. She was the bookkeeper for Morris Furniture store for almost two decades. Having become bilingual, she enjoyed reading about 'The Frontiersmen' in Ohio and Western Kentucky when she learned to read in English (as well as German). She was a loving mother, a devoted wife and a fascinating woman who lived a colorful and heroic life. She will remain in our hearts, dearly loved, and never forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (curealz.org) or the charity of one's choice.