Adrian Spicer

On Saturday, June 4, 2022, the children of Adrian “Spice” Spicer laid his ashes to rest beneath the family gravestone in Crown Hill Cemetery following a short family-led ceremony. Later that evening, friends and family members enjoyed a Celebration of Life for Spice at the Irish Lion in Bloomington. In typical Spice fashion, waffles were enjoyed the next morning. 

Spice was born August 13, 1940, in Madison, WI, the eldest of Delmar and Alice Spicer’s three sons. He lived most of his younger life in Salem, IN and attended Salem schools before transferring to finish High School from Culver Academy. After graduating from Culver, Spice earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. During college, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and continued his ROTC training before graduating and joining the U.S. Navy. Spicer retired with the rank of Lieutenant and then returned to Salem to take over the family business, Salem Cheese and Milk Company, Inc.

Throughout his life, Spice loved sailing while on Lake Monroe or at Patoka Lake. He also enjoyed some occasional long stretches of boat life in and around the Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Spice was also an avid snow skier, hitting the slopes whenever possible everywhere from Austria, France, and Germany to Aspen and Steamboat Springs, CO, and, of course, at Paoli Peaks. After retiring from Salem Cheese in the mid-1980s, Spice kept busy and enjoyed life as a part-time bartender at Backroad’s in Salem, and also as a bookseller at Waldenbooks in Clarksville, IN.

Spice moved to Sun City Grand, AZ in 1997, where he was actively involved with the Sun City West Clay Club and Computer Club. His love of pottery and travel took him on group trips to Thailand, Peru, New Zealand, as well as several countries in Africa to experience other cultures’ traditions with clay.

In July, 2020, Spice fell victim to COVID-19, ultimately succumbing to the disease on August 18th, just a few days after his 80th birthday.   

Spice is survived by his sons, Aaron Spicer of Salt Lake City, UT, Brent Spicer (Dana Daniels) of Boerne, TX, and their children Jillian and Ryan Spicer. Spice also leaves behind his beloved step-daughter, Angela Sparkman (John Paul Sparkman), and their children Austin, Ryland, and Preston. At the time of his death, Spice was also survived by his brother Dan Spicer. Sadly, before his ashes could be formally interred, Dan, too, passed away in December, 2021. Spice and Dan are both preceded in death by their parents, Delmar and Alice Spicer, along with their younger brother, Ted Spicer.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Adrian Spicer, please visit our floral store.