Loren Spande

In Loving Memory of Loren J. Spande

March 28, 1943 – June 26, 2026

On June 26, 2026, Loren J. Spande, age 83, passed away surrounded by the love of his family.

Loren was a man of unwavering integrity, quiet strength, and deep devotion to his family, his country, and his community. He never sought recognition for the countless lives he touched, choosing instead to lead by example—with humility, kindness, generosity, and an unwavering belief that every person deserved to feel valued.

Loren proudly served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Enterprise, a chapter of his life that remained one of his greatest honors. During his service, one of his proudest memories came shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis, when John F. Kennedy came aboard the USS Enterprise. Loren had the privilege of interviewing President Kennedy, whom he always described as a genuinely kind and gracious man. Although it was one of the highlights of his military service, Loren rarely spoke about the experience unless family or friends brought it up. When he did, he would smile as he recalled President Kennedy's warmth—and, with a touch of humor, the distinctive calf-high stockings he wore that day.

After serving his country, Loren dedicated himself to building a life centered around family, hard work, and helping others. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked for Xerox, where he became one of the company's top salesmen. The relationships he built and the lessons he learned there shaped the rest of his career and his outlook on life. He firmly believed in the power of relationships and was a master networker long before the term became popular. One of his favorite sayings was, "You're two people away from a deal." To Loren, that wasn't just a business philosophy—it was proof that genuine relationships and treating people well could open doors and create opportunities.

Loren spent nearly 30 years as a successful general contractor before turning his attention to a new calling—developing senior housing, assisted living, and memory care communities. He became a pioneer in bringing these types of facilities to Minnesota, Iowa, and Wyoming, helping create places where older adults could live with dignity, comfort, and compassionate care. His work left a lasting impact on countless families and communities.

While Loren worked hard, he loved even harder. His greatest joy was his family, and he cherished every opportunity to spend time with them. He taught us to lead by example and to let our hearts be our guide. Those simple lessons became the foundation of how many of us strive to live our own lives today.

Loren found peace in the outdoors. If he wasn't working, there was a good chance you could find him fishing on his favorite lake—Smith Lake—at the family's beloved lake home. He had a deep appreciation for nature and taught his family to literally “talk to the trees”, touching branches and saying “Hi there”. A lesson that reminded those around him to slow down and appreciate the beauty that surrounded them.

He was loyal to a fault and had an extraordinary ability to make everyone he met feel important. People often remarked that he was one of the kindest men they had ever known and that he was simply wonderful to talk with. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, and by the time it ended, they often felt like lifelong friends. 

Loren also had a wonderful sense of humor. Friends and family will forever smile when they remember hearing him say, "I'm finer than frog's hair," or signing off with, "10-4, good buddy… over and out." His playful personality made people laugh wherever he went.

His faith was an important part of his life. Loren genuinely enjoyed learning about others and often asked people about their religious background. If they weren't Lutheran, he would lovingly tease them in his good-natured way—a conversation that almost always ended with laughter. Loren had a lifelong love for animals and believed every living creature deserved kindness, compassion, and care. Whether caring for beloved family pets or simply appreciating the wildlife around him, he found joy in the companionship of animals and never missed an opportunity to admire the beauty of God's creation. His gentle heart and respect for all living things reflected the kindness that defined the way he lived.

Perhaps nothing reflected Loren's joyful spirit more than Christmas. Every holiday season, he transformed the family home into a spectacular Christmas light display that became a tradition for friends, neighbors, and visitors alike. Decorating for Christmas wasn't simply a hobby—it was his gift to the community. He poured countless hours into creating displays that brought smiles to children and adults alike, eventually earning recognition on the local news. Seeing the lights sparkle brought him as much happiness as it brought everyone who came to enjoy them.

For more than 55 years, Loren was an active and proud Freemason, ultimately attaining the rank of 33rd Degree Mason. Masonry reflected the principles by which he lived—integrity, charity, service, and brotherhood—and he remained deeply committed to those ideals throughout his life.

Although Loren accomplished much professionally, those who knew him best would say his greatest accomplishment was simply being a devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and friend. He had an extraordinary gift for making every person feel seen, heard, and appreciated. His kindness, wisdom, humor, generosity, and unwavering loyalty will remain part of the lives of everyone fortunate enough to have known him.

In his later years, Loren faced significant health challenges with remarkable courage and dignity. Even as dementia gradually changed so much, it never diminished the love that surrounded him. On June 26, 2026, he left this world the same way he lived in it—surrounded by the people who loved him most.

Loren is survived by his beloved wife Joyce; daughters, Tanya (Aaron), Dawn (Dennis), and Krissie (Jason); and many wonderful grandchildren.

A Celebration of Loren's life will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post #557. Burial with military honors will take place on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to help establish the Loren J. Spande "Building Futures" Memorial Scholarship. Created in his memory, the scholarship will support students entering the construction trades, honoring Loren's lifelong commitment to hard work, integrity, craftsmanship, and helping others build meaningful careers. Details on how to contribute will be shared once the scholarship has been formally established.

Those who knew Loren may remember different stories, different conversations, or different moments, but they all seem to remember the same thing: how he made them feel. He had a rare gift for making everyone feel welcome, valued, and important—a legacy that will live on far beyond his years.

Loren's legacy is not measured by the buildings he constructed, the businesses he owned, or the honors he received. It lives on in the lives he influenced, the family he loved beyond measure, the communities he strengthened, the friendships he nurtured, and the countless people who are better because they knew him.

His was truly a life well lived, and he will be deeply missed, forever loved, never forgotten and as Loren would say…. “10-4 good buddy…over and out.”

“Lead by example. Let your heart be your guide.” — Loren J. Spande