Casey Spaeth 1994-2018

SPAETH, STACY, EUL-STACY

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2018 at 19:29:00

A funeral service for Casey Spaeth, age 23, of Spirit Lake, will be held Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 10:30 AM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be on Friday, April 27th from 5:00-7:00 PM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Discovery House in Spirit Lake.

Following interment services, please join the family at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake for a luncheon and continued fellowship.

Casey Gerald Spaeth, the son of Michelle (Stacy) and Chris Spaeth, was born August 13, 1994 in Woodstock, Illinois. The family lived in Maple Grove, Minnesota before moving to Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1999 where Casey graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 2013. After high school, Casey received his Associates in Liberal Arts at DMACC in Boone Iowa.

Casey had a love for all sports. He thrived in football throughout his high school years. He also enjoyed skateboarding, music, video games, attending sporting events, traveling, or just a day at home with his dogs, Kibbles and Bits. Casey was recently working at the local Hyvee. If he wasn't working he had a passion for helping other people in any way he could and would often seek out volunteer work. He lived a healthy lifestyle and spent a lot of his time exercising. His love for animals inspired him to take on a vegan diet in which he spent tons of time cooking and experimenting with new recipes.

Casey passed away April 19, 2018 in Spirit Lake, Iowa at twenty-three years of age.

He is survived by his parents, Chris and Michelle Spaeth; brother, Dean Eul-Stacy; brother, Ben Spaeth; sister, Lexi Spaeth.

From Turner Funeral Home

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Shared from Chris:
The Journey of Casey Spaeth . . .
As most of you already know, we lost Casey on April 19. We wanted to share with you the journey of Casey that ended after a short 23 years.
During his high school years Casey was an honor roll student and known for being a kind, compassionate and happy person. In 2015 Casey received his Liberal Arts degree from DMACC and went on to study at ISU.
In 2016 Casey was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. We believe a combination of genetic predisposition and drug experimentation during his time at ISU is where his battle with mental health began.
Although Casey was not accepting of the diagnosis, legal trouble soon found him along with the disease. This lead to three separate court ordered stays at mental health facilities. That resulted in a court ordered medication schedule to control the Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. This caused Casey to accept the diagnosis.
Casey moved back into our family home and tried to live a normal life with the disease. He was doing volunteer work as well as holding down a job. After about 6 months Casey started feeling ill, having seizures and complaining that the medication made him feel lethargic and depressed. These are all common side effects of the medications given for the treatment of these disorders to help with combating the chemical imbalance in the brain.
Prior to April of this year, Casey was the best we had seen him in a long time. He was going out and doing things again. Working, socializing and volunteering. His huge heart and the caring Casey we all knew was making a comeback!
Then, April 19th our world came crashing down. Casey walked out in front of a truck, ending his journey here on this earth.
A note from Casey’s phone – January 2018
“For over the past year I have been court ordered to get a shot of “medicine.” What this shot does is block the brain from producing dopamine. As most people know, dopamine is what gives someone pleasure. So this drug essentially blocks you from enjoying life and living in the moment. I’ve been living with little to no pleasure. I don’t enjoy anything and can’t put my heart into anything I do. I feel as if my soul has been ripped in to pieces and it’s destroyed my will to live”
Our goal in sharing Casey’s story is to bring more awareness to issues that are in the mental health system, and the day to day things that those who suffer from mental health disorders deal with. The mental health system is broken, and awareness is the way to make a change in the future. Please, hug your loved ones a little harder tonight.
-The Spaeth Family

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A Spirit Lake man was killed in an accident east of Spirit Lake Thursday morning.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office says the victim is 23-year-old Casey Spaeth of Spirit Lake. The Sheriff’s Office says Spaeth was walking eastbound along highways nine and 71 when he stepped into the path of a westbound semi driven by 42-year-old Jason Johnsen of Sioux Falls. Authorities say Johnsen attempted to avoid hitting Spaeth but was unsuccessful.
Lifesaving efforts were administered on the scene, however Spaeth was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Spirit Lake Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Spirit Lake Fire Department and Spirit Lake First Responders.

From Storm Lake Radio