John Charles Spainhower, 16, Sheridan, died Thursday in Casper where he had been hospitalized for the past two weeks.
Spainhower was taken to Casper following an altercation with a 14 year old boy near the Coca-Cola plant on Paul Street on April 15.
He was born February 1, 1961, in Sheridan and was a student at SHS.He was a member of the First Christian church.
Survivors include his mother, Mrs. William Bernasek, Sheridan; his father, Frank Spainhower Jr., Sheridan; Two brothers, James Spainhower, Gillette, and Jerry Spainhower, Fort Riley, KA; two sisters, Jannie Prazma, Lusk and Jeanine Kosmas, Sheridan; and his grandmothers, Flossie Nejedly and Dorothy Spainhower, both of Sheridan.
Champion funeral Home is in charge of Local arrangements which are pending.
CountyCoroner Jim Kane said today that an inquest in connection with Spainhower’s death will be held as soon as medical records are available.
I remember John Spainhower as a quiet but very smart guy I am pretty sure he went to Woodlandpark? then Sheridan high..... We always got along and I believe that he got into a fight and it was a freak of nature bleeding of the brain? I know the person that the fight occured with and hold no grudge as it was a freak of nature accident? Jeff Ainsworth could have killed me the one time we fought? Also thank you Tom Pilch and Chuck Onstott and Dave Loseke as you were the ones that got the fight started? Jeff was a full head taller and I was a lover not a fighter?
Roman, John did go to Woodland Park and was REALLY smart, and a dry sense of humor as I recall. He got a brain tumor and I'm pretty sure had a steel plate in his skull after the surgery, thus he was more vulnerable to a blow to the head. Very sad.
I also remember John. He was a whiz kid, while I was daydreaming in Algebra and got the nickname "Cloud" from Mr. Coleman, John was getting straight A's seemingly with no effort.
I was there at the fight and saw John fall. Later on, all of us who were there had to go to the Coroner's Inquest. That was a little freaky for a sophomore boy. I remember that the coroner said that it was a normal punch, and that something just happened. When they cut open the skull, he said that the brain was not folded upon itself (I think it looks like how a bowl of cooked macaroni looks), but that it was very smooth. He said that kind of injury could happen with any fight. He also said the the surgery and plate had nothing to do with his death. It was just a freak accident. Whether he was telling the truth or not, he scared me, and I said that I'd never get into another fight..... so now I'm working on my Black Belt. Go figure. I remember that the fight was over someone spitting on the other's car.
Roman Legerski
I remember John Spainhower as a quiet but very smart guy I am pretty sure he went to Woodlandpark? then Sheridan high..... We always got along and I believe that he got into a fight and it was a freak of nature bleeding of the brain? I know the person that the fight occured with and hold no grudge as it was a freak of nature accident? Jeff Ainsworth could have killed me the one time we fought? Also thank you Tom Pilch and Chuck Onstott and Dave Loseke as you were the ones that got the fight started? Jeff was a full head taller and I was a lover not a fighter?Diane Allen (Roman)
Roman, John did go to Woodland Park and was REALLY smart, and a dry sense of humor as I recall. He got a brain tumor and I'm pretty sure had a steel plate in his skull after the surgery, thus he was more vulnerable to a blow to the head. Very sad.Kent Winters
I also remember John. He was a whiz kid, while I was daydreaming in Algebra and got the nickname "Cloud" from Mr. Coleman, John was getting straight A's seemingly with no effort.Terry Hedderman
I was there at the fight and saw John fall. Later on, all of us who were there had to go to the Coroner's Inquest. That was a little freaky for a sophomore boy. I remember that the coroner said that it was a normal punch, and that something just happened. When they cut open the skull, he said that the brain was not folded upon itself (I think it looks like how a bowl of cooked macaroni looks), but that it was very smooth. He said that kind of injury could happen with any fight. He also said the the surgery and plate had nothing to do with his death. It was just a freak accident. Whether he was telling the truth or not, he scared me, and I said that I'd never get into another fight..... so now I'm working on my Black Belt. Go figure. I remember that the fight was over someone spitting on the other's car.