Obituary of Spike Fierek
Fierek, D. William “Spike” of Duluth, MN, succumbed to old age on January 30, 2020, at Boutwells Landing in Stillwater, MN, after a full life spanning 97 years. He was born in Duluth on January 14, 1923, the second child of Benjamin and Stella (Crotty) Fierek. He graduated Morgan Park High School in 1942. Bill married Elaine Lois Akervik in 1949 and together they raised three sons. He remarried Janet Gloria (McCauley) Hubert in 1981. Together they had a blended family of nine children.
Spike served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII as an armorer assigned to the 367 Fighter Group / 392 Fighter Squadron. He fought in the D-Day campaign and throughout the European Theater. Like so many who had served, he never talked about his war experiences except in self-deprecating jest. Still, his service in the 367 Fighter Group was a defining experience in his life: Never spoken of, always honored.
Bill completed an Instrument Repair Apprenticeship after the war and worked at U.S. Steel’s Duluth plant. Upon retiring from the steel industry,
he worked 10 more years for the City of Duluth Maintenance Department.
Spike was a Life Member of the American Legion, Post 71, of West Duluth, and also of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served for 13 years as the volunteer operations and gambling manager of the West Duluth American Legion Club, where he made countless lifelong friends. He was the Minnesota 8th District American Legion Commander and American Legion Department of Minnesota State Historian. In 2004 Spike went to Washington, D.C., as an official Minnesota delegate to the National World War II Memorial dedication ceremony. Bill was known to all, but particularly his Legion buddies, for his signature “And that there…” expression.
Spike and Jan built a new house 40 miles north of Duluth on Whiteface Lake in 1994, and in 1999 they began dividing their time between the lake and Sun City, Arizona. He chose the 20-year shingles for the roof on that new house, confident he would not replace them during his lifetime. Five years ago, he purchased new shingles.
Bill is survived by his wife, Janet; brothers R. James Fierek and G. Thomas (Connie) Fierek, sons Rodney (Beth) Fierek, Robert (Maria) Fierek, and David (Kim) Fierek; stepchildren Ted (Kim Magnuson) Hubert, Gloria (Terry) Gren, Kenneth (Vicky) Hubert, Mary (Darrell Tilden) Dulmage, Beth Hubert, and Jack (Anne) Hubert; 18 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, many nieces and nephews, and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Lucille (Fierek) Allen, and former wife, Elaine.
The family is deeply grateful to Lakeview Hospital, Boutwells Landing, and Lakeview Hospice for everyone’s compassionate care and devotion to our father’s needs and comfort during his last month.
Visitation will be held on February 29, 2020 at 10:00 AM at Sunrise Memorial Chapel, 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy, Hermantown, MN 55811, with memorial service beginning at 11:00 AM. He will be laid to rest in the adjacent cemetery. There will be a celebratory toast to Bill at 1:00 PM at the West Duluth American Legion, 5814 Grand Avenue, Duluth, MN 55807. Spike will be dearly missed.
“And that there….”
