Joshua Ryan Spalsbury

Joshua Spalsbury, born March 24, 1980 in Hillsdale, MI, left this world too soon at the age of 27 on August 15, 2007 as a result of a car accident in Yellowstone National Park where he was employed. Joshua grew up in Grand Ledge, MI, with his family who survive him, parents Kim and Kathy, sister Jenna, brother Jarred (Cody Scoggins) nephew Jayden, grandparents Margaret Hotchkiss and Joel and Saundra Spalsbury, and close friend Robby Winstanley. He is also survived by many dear and loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, too numerous to list, but who were kept in his heart as well. He is welcomed into heaven by family who predeceased him, grandfather Robert Hotchkiss, and great grandparents Tom and Daisy Spalsbury, Minnie and Loyal Kimball, Zella and Harold Hotchkiss, and Freda and Isaac Monsour. Joshua graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1998, where he ran cross country and track under the loving coaching and mentoring of his father Kim and close family friend Jim Brandt, and played basketball for close family friend Coach Tony Sweet. He attended Hope College (his fatherâ€™s alma mater) for two years and transferred to DePaul University to complete his BA in Communication in 2002. Josh was an avid and loyal fan of our MSU and Detroit sports teams and followed their progress from wherever he was. He loved his family and friends deeply, as they loved him, and was thoroughly enjoying his job in beautiful Yellowstone National Park at the time of his death. He had a lifelong passion for music, writing and art, and hoped one day to make a movie from one of his original scripts. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 11:00 am at St. Michael Catholic Church, Grand Ledge with The Reverend Fr. James Eisele, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Grand Ledge. The Family will receive friends Sunday 3-5:00 pm and 7-9:00 pm and Monday 6-9:00 pm with a scripture service at 7:00 pm at the Holihan-Atkin Funeral Home, Grand Ledge. Contributions may be made in Joshuaâ€™s memory to Memorial and Honor Program St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, Tennessee 38105 to honor his love and admiration for children.

Joshua Ryan Spalsbury

March 24, 1980 - August 15, 2007