Name: Deane E Spilman Service Info.: CPL US ARMY AIR CORPS WORLD WAR II Birth Date: 26 Oct 1920 Death Date: 29 May 1998 Cemetery: Memorial Park Cemetery Cemetery Address: 11495 265th Street Mason City, IA 50401 Source Information: National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: National Cemetery Administration. Nationwide Gravesite Locator.

Deane E. Spilman was born Oct. 26, 1920, to Thomas and Winnie (Frye) Spilman in Clear Lake. He graduated from Clear Lake High School.

Deane grew up on his parent's farm in Clear Lake, IA. Deane was drafted into the Army in 1942. He graduated from the aid corps technical training school at Gulfport Field, Gulfport, Miss. He then enrolled at the Wright Aero School at Paterson NJ in February 1943. He joined the Army Air Force. He served in World War II as an airplane and engine mechanic. He had trained as a pilot, but just before being sent overseas, the Army discovered he was red/green and yellow/blue color blind. Because of the color blindness he could no longer be a pilot. Deane was then assigned to worked on airplanes at the base near Roswell, NM. He said had seen a testing of the Atomic bomb from a distance while he was stationed in New Mexico. He earned the rank of Cpl in the US Army AIr Corps.

Deane married his first wife, Bette J. Blahnik on Jan 1, 1945 while on leave. After discharge he lived in Appleton, WI and worked for Sherry Moters, the Ford dealer in Appleton. He then returned to Mason City, IA with his wife and daughter. For a while he did farm work before taking a position at Damon's Department Store as an appliance repairman. He stayed there until the company let go of their appliance service in 1955. Deane started his business, Spilman Appliance Service, in 1955 and continued until his retirement in 1990. The couple had four children.

Deane's second wife was Shirely Grover who he married June 9, 1961. He enjoyed camping, snowmobiling, CB radios and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Deane died from a brain cancer called Glioblastoma Multiforme. He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery Cemetery in Mason City, IA.

Deane Spilman (1920)