Bonkers, fun-loving, kindhearted, Dad
Warm, caring, hard-working, and ambitious to his core, Spencer enjoyed adventures and athletics. Hunting and fishing with family took place year-round, while track and field prowess earned him several medals. A tender heart and compassionate nature made him an excellent, thoughtful gift-giver, and he advocated for those pushed aside by others, making him an ally to many. His father, brother Eric, mother LaDonna, and his fur baby Bonkers formed a beloved family, giving him the love and opportunity he needed to shine and show how sweet a guy he was.
Family trips, including their jaunt to a comedically uncomfortable Las Vegas show and watching the Packers win at Lambeau Field, are cherished memories. As a gifted track athlete competing at the state level, he was incredible to watch. Spencer’s final time celebrating Father’s Day involved golfing and a cookout, with the entire family savoring their time together. A snowshoeing and tubing expedition sent the family north to a friend’s cabin, and trips to Mexico, Orlando, the Badlands, Yellowstone, and countless campgrounds form a lifetime’s worth of lasting memories for his closest kin.
Spencer attended MATC and then transitioned to construction. Working with his hands was an innate skill of his. A strong work ethic was instilled in him from a young age, and he’d already helped his dad with land surveying. He became the youngest ever foreperson at an asphalt company within two years of graduating high school. Years later, he moved into drywall installation. He dreamed of becoming a support counselor to maximize his potential and passion for helping others. Though family always supported him, he began to pull back and attempted to hide his struggles as misuse became more frequent. He feared his accomplishments had faded, but his support system was always behind him.
In retrospect, LaDonna’s memories are painful. The truth had been too much to bear. In her words, “It takes a while to wrap your head around some things that you simply dismiss because internally you don’t want to admit to yourself that something that serious could be wrong.” Changes in her son’s temperament and behavior spiked in the two months prior to a confrontation about missing jewelry, and Spencer confessing his misuse, asking for help. Thirty days of inpatient treatment was not enough. She swore she would never let him go again after he snuck out during a period of recovery. Instead, heroin stole away the kind-hearted man who was so very loved. Forty-six days passed between his admission to his family and his tragic death.
A parent’s heart is forever broken by such grief. In the wake of Spencer’s passing, his family continues their mission to educate and show compassion for those who fight for wellness. Hurtful, harmful, and ignorant comments sting, so LaDonna shares her son’s last Facebook post in the face of that hate: “Don’t Judge, Just Support.” She is determined to stop the stigma around substance use disorder, detangle the knots of misunderstanding, and show others how to forego judgment and grieve unapologetically to promote healing. Saved text messages from Spencer, echoes of his laughter, and recollections of the good he did form a legacy never to be forgotten.
Spencer’s mother, LaDonna Radel, provided the information for this narrative.
December 20, 1989-October 6, 2016-Age 26
Portrait Artist: Carol Meckling
Narrative Writer: Jill Denton
