Peter John Spangler

Peter John Spangler, Jr., (Pete) age 77, of Cape Coral, Florida, formerly of Harrisburg, PA passed away Tuesday, September 12th surrounded by loved ones at Health Park Hospital in Fort Myers, Florida. 
He was preceded in death by his father, Peter John Spangler, Sr, his mother, Margaret Jane Spangler Itnyre Stellfox (nee Taylor), and his brother, Robert F. Spangler, all formerly of Harrisburg.
Pete attended John Harris High School and traveled the world for nine years through his service in the United States Navy before starting a successful career as a manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. After his retirement and subsequent move to Florida in 2009, Pete continued his lifelong love of the game of golf (which he was very good at), enjoyed year-round recreational boating, and was a member of the Shutterbugs Camera Club and the Nathaniel Bowditch Society Boat Club of Cape Coral.
Pete was a loyal friend to many and enjoyed road trips and lunches with companions over the years.  He was also a VERY loyal Steelers fan, and even convinced Millie, his partner and wife of 33 years, to get a new 65” TV before this season started. He was so excited to have become a grandfather and enjoyed trips to visit the grandkids, as well as many hours of facetime over the years.
Pete was always the first one on the dance floor and sang with abandon. He was able to continue his love of photography (that started while serving in the Navy) into more recent years and had a picture published in the Fort Myers News Press Tropical. If he wasn’t doing something that was already mentioned, then he was washing his already clean car. He also loved watching car auctions and automobile restoration shows on television, attending motorcycle events, and trying to persuade Millie that they needed a Can-Am.
He was a #girldad before it was cool, instilling in his daughters the confidence to lead, how to negotiate, a near encyclopedic knowledge of cars (we are still learning), and of course, a deep love for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pete was a proud and supportive father, a kind and caring husband who would do anything for his children and wife. We will be forever grateful for the many lessons he taught us over the years and will carry them with us always.
Pete also told us to be brief and not go overboard with this obituary, so maybe he still has some work to do with us from above.
He is survived by his wife, Millie Hammel of Cape Coral, his daughters Rebecca Spangler of Washington, DC, Sara McGraw (Jeff) of Wernersville, PA, and Kate Spangler of Dunedin, FL, 2 grandchildren (Evan and Nora McGraw), and 5 nieces and nephews.
Interment will be at Sarasota National Cemetery at 1pm on November 9th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Suncoast Behavioral Solutions, LLC, at PO Box 21, Palm Harbor, Florida 34683. Suncoast is a for profit organization located in Dunedin, Florida dedicated to providing quality support services for those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.