Marion A. Spilmon  MMCM        1925 - 2010 
Marion A. Spilmon, age 84, of Necedah, WI
Passed away on Oct 19, 2010

Marion A. Spilmon, age 84, of Necedah, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at his home.  He was born the sixth of twelve children on December 27, 1925, to Wilbur and Beulah (Aaron) Spilmon in Thompsonville, IL. 

Marion served his career in the United States Navy and retired as Battalion Commander, Master Chief Machinist in Great Lakes, IL. He was a veteran of three World Wars - WWII, Korean War and Vietnam and two campaigns – the European Campaign and the Pacific Campaign.  He was united in marriage to Genevieve Grogan April 12, 1958 in Rockford, IL  He was a dedicated husband and father; five of his children are also proud to serve in the U.S. Military. and they were married for over 52 years.

He is survived by his wife, Genevieve; his children, Mark Spilmon of Las Vegas, NV, Marie Spilmon of Necedah, WI, Lia (Tyrone) Burris of Streamwood, IL, Martin (Vasa) Spilmon of Tracy, CA, Rita (Lee) LaVoy of Arizona and Joel Spilmon of Necedah, WI; 14 grandchildren; his brothers and sisters; Minnie (Roy) Lee of Evansville, IN, Samuel B. (Shirley) Spilmon of Rockford, IL, Vernia Spilmon of St. Ann, MO., Elmer Spilmon of Bell Flower, IL. and Harold Dean (Linda) Spilmon of Evansville, In. also surviving is a sister-in-law, Rose Spilmon of Wadesville, IN; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Marion was preceded in death by his brother, William Oscar Spilmon, sister Audrey Gold, sister, Sylvia Essary, sister Betty Tolley, brother Herman Spilmon, brother Arthur Eugene Spilmon; and a sister-in-law, Carol Grogan.
You won't find the chief in Kawishiwi Cruise books, he was busy in Engineering. Chief Mairon Spilmon served in three wars and 2 campaigns. The photo above was taken before he made Senior Chief on board. He made Master Chief later at Great Lakes RTC where he became a Battalion Commander before he retired to Necedah. His daughter, Lia, was born in Hawaii while her father served aboard USS Kawishiwi AO-146. Lia also served aboard Kawishiwi.

      Lia's dad died from mesothelioma and did really well because all the doctors thought he would die in 6 months and he lived 2 and a half years with Stage 4. It was helpful for him to have more time to get stuff wrapped up.

 Lia said, "I would not know all the guys he worked with in Engineering. I think quite a few of them are already gone. We just knew that he use to keep in Touch with John H. Wolters who lived in West Palm Beach, Florida. They were on the Kawishiwi together. If we knew where my dad put his address we would call him because they were good friends.

      Four of the chiefs six children did time in the Navy. His son Mark left the navy as an ET2. His daughter Marie was a CT3. His daughter Lia did the whole 20 and retired as an ET1 (SW). His son Martin was an ATAN and served a tour on the Midway in Japan.  His daughter Rita went into the Marine Corps. His son Joel is an Artist. Marion's brother, Harold Dean Spilmon was also in the navy.


The Chief's side Casket Decor - He had a three gun salute and taps played
at St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery - linked above.



 NAVY OILER HISTORY: A lot of people who worked in around these ship were exposed to the asbestos. Those who had to work with the heated fuel lines, boilers, heating/cooling equipment, and the forced air were exposed to it. Crew members put the asbestos in Air Unit Gaskets and high temperature style pumps, etc. Most of the time there were very few problems with asbestos until it got old and needed to be replaced. The boiler techs had to plaster the boilers on the inside with a coating of the asbestos and at the time they did not know that it required special safety gear. Many were applying the stuff with their bare hands. mixing the powder with water and plastering it on the walls of the boilers. They had no safety gloves or safety mask or even a safety suit. Smoking or being around smokers makes the asbestos problem worse in the lungs because of that tar and carcinogens in the cigarette smoke. Some people came down with mesothelioma right away but others have no problem until their immune systems get under strain from other illnesses and it starts acting up.

Cancer medicines will almost wipe a person out. It was not the cemo so much as the allergies to the blood building meds and their effect on the kidneys especially if kidney functions are lower. Reactions to pain medicines also kill a persons appetite. Hopes are high for future medicines that will be more helpful, like "lab on a chip".

Mesothelioma is actually a slower cancer than the aggressive affects of cigarettes. And the fact that it causes a type of secondary cancer called Large Cell carcinoma in the bones. Weakened bones will break easily, even with normal body movements. The pain can be mistaken for arthritis. The cancer can be within any bone of your body, head, shoulder, hip, where ever. It's a slow, sneaky cancer. You can already be at stage four by the time you realize you have it. It is already affecting your blood and making you weak and anemic. The Large Cell Carcinoma has very little effect except messing your bones up, especially the radiation for it, and making it impossible for a person to make enough blood for themselves so they need transfusions to live. The care for you will become a large family effort requiring 24 hour care. Care in a nursing home is not enough.

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