Joseph William Spleet

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 AM on Monday, November 3, 2025, at Hope Vineyard Church, with Pastor Bob Moore officiating. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 1 PM to 5 PM at Nelson-House Funeral Home and at the church from 10 to 11 AM directly before the service.

Joe was born on January 28, 1961, in Alpena, Michigan, the beloved son of James and Rhea (LeRoux) Spleet. He spent his younger years getting into various shenanigans with his friends Pete, Frank, and Steve.

He graduated from Alpena High School before pursuing his education at Schoolcraft College and Ferris State University. He spent nearly his entire career working at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw in Biomedical Services, working first as a technician and finishing as a senior site manager.

In 2006, he married Nancy Hall and had two children, Sam and Ellie, and helped raise her child, Aubrey. They lived in Saint Charles, MI. He found much joy in snuggling his babies and loved his kids so much. He loved leading and guiding them as they grew, attending Ellie’s cheer events, and teaching skills like changing their car oil.

A devoted member of the Hope Vineyard Church, Joe served as a board member, greeter, and small group leader, impacting many lives with his kindness and wisdom. He loved Jesus and loved discussing concepts of faith. Every summer, he teamed up with his tractor show buddies at the River Bend Steam and Gas Association and helped run the sawmill with Pete’s steam engine. More recently, he enjoyed a shooting league with Charles at the Flushing Rifle and Pistol Club. Joe found much joy in being outside, cutting and splitting firewood with Cheryl, fixing cattle fences, landscaping their yard, and finding any chore that he could do with his Kubota tractor.

On October 13, 2018, he married Cheryl Mandley (Erickson) in Owosso. He moved to her home in Owosso and settled there, building new barns and structures on the property. Adding Cheryl’s children to the mix made his family much larger, and he enjoyed every relationship he had with her kids. Joe and Cheryl tried to travel somewhere every year to celebrate their wedding anniversary to make memories and enjoy life together. They also did many household projects together indoors and on the property. Joe made Cheryl feel so loved by his many thoughtful acts of kindness, like leaving her favorite chocolate in her car for a surprise snack, and saying “I love you” every night without fail.

Together, they nurtured a loving environment for their family, which includes Joe’s children, Samuel and Elizabeth Spleet, and his step-children, Aubrey Flores-Hall, Andrew (Michelle) Mandley, Jane (Vonn) Mandlinski, Abigail (Justin) Buchholz, Bear Mandley, and Erin (Kyle) Mesh. Joe cherished each moment with his adored grandson, Titus Buchholz, as well as his niece, Lisa (Jeremy) Anderson, great-nephews, Emmett, Wyatt, Travis, and Landon, and nephew, Cash Spleet. He held a special place in the hearts of many extended family members and friends.

Joe was predeceased by his parents and his brother, James C. Spleet Jr..

In keeping with Joe’s spirit of generosity, the family invites friends to contribute to a fund supporting his youngest children or to Hope Vineyard Church, supporting a cause he cared deeply about.