Marlene Kay Spice

On July 16, 2021, Marlene Kay (Finchem) Spice, beloved wife and mother of five children passed away at the age of 76. Marlene was born on April 13, 1945 in Wayne County, Highland Park, Michigan to Paul and Geraldine (Ammer) Finchem. As a child, Marlene contracted polio. Even though her legs no longer worked, she let nothing stop her. On December 23, 1967, she married Charles Henry Spice, a US Naval Sailor and later a pastor. Throughout their ministry in the United Methodist Church, Marlene was a supportive pastor's wife, going above and beyond what it required of her. Her greatest joys were spending time with her husband, raising four children, and later connecting with her oldest daughter. She loved serving her church families, her brothers, her nieces and nephews, and all those around her. Now, she is using her perfect legs and dancing in heaven with Jesus, whom she loved above all. Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Geraldine, her oldest brother, Paul, and her son, Charles Henry Spice. She is survived by her husband, Chuck; brother Dean (Pat) Finchem; four children: Audra (Craig) Farrington, Catherine (John) Durst, Amy (Rick) Townsley, and Sarah (Matt) Schwerin; daughter-in-law Joy Spice; fifteen grandchildren: Stacy, Hallie, Kyle, Breanna, Johnny, Samantha, Austin, Adam (Paije), Alan (Haley), Kayla, Nia, Lara, Charlie, Andrew, and Benjamin; eight great grandchildren, many special nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Marlene's visitation will be from 6 until 9pm Monday at Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home. Her funeral will be there at 11am Tuesday with Rev. Jeff Frost officiating. Interment will follow at 2pm Tuesday at the Whitley City United Methodist Church Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1174, Corbin, KY 40702 or Post Polio Health International, 50 Crestwood Executive Center, Suite 440, St. Louis, MO 63126. Messages may be sent to the Spice family at www.vankirkgrisellfuneralhome.com.