Daniel Spond

Daniel Frank Spond of North Little Rock, Arkansas, died on June 2, 2025. He was of the Catholic faith. Dan was born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 13, 1947, the son of Stanley and Bernice Spond. He attended St. Mark’s and St. Anne’s grade schools in Warren, Michigan, and he graduated second in the class of three students from a one-room schoolhouse, Maple Valley Township School, in Valley Center, Michigan. During this time, his family lived on a small farm and Dan had many adventures to tell of his time there. Following grade school, the Spond family moved to Tennessee, where he graduated from Father Ryan High School in Nashville in 1965.

Dan earned a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1969. He was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps, serving as an officer in the First Marine Division in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Captain Spond was honorably discharged from the USMC in 1973.

He met his future wife, Mary Hart, in Little Rock, Arkansas. They married on December 22, 1973. The couple lived briefly in Knoxville, Tennessee, while Dan completed an MS in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Tennessee. They then settled in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where they raised their four children and were faithful parishioners at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Dan retired in 2015 from an accomplished career as an engineer for Entergy Corporation and as an engineering consultant, working on numerous projects in nuclear and fossil fuel power plants.

Lovingly known as “Big D” by family and friends, Dan was a good, generous, and devoted husband and father who will be greatly missed. His career and personal interests took him across the United States and all over the world. He loved America’s rich history and beautiful landscapes. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, visiting all 50 states, and many national parks and sporting events. His favorite foreign destination was Spain - having visited there more than 30 times! Big D’s most exciting hobby was to sneak into Division 1 college football stadiums and walk across the 50 yard line. He “crossed the 50” at 52 stadiums around the country and had a story to tell about each one. Dan Spond was a family man, an engineer, a sharp thinker, but he was foremost a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

Dan is survived by his loving wife Mary of 51 years, daughter Katie Ortega (Rob) and grandson Ethan, son Matthew Spond (Therese) and grandchildren Tatiana, Christopher, and Penelope, son Mark Spond (Saskia) and grandson Luke, and son Michael Spond (Rebecca) and grandchildren Lucy, Sebastian, Maximilian, Joan, and grandson on the way. He is also survived by his sisters Christine Keeney of Madison, Alabama, Evelyn Hart of Little Rock, Faye Spond of Maumelle, his brothers Br. Bill Spond, OFM of Burlington, Wisconsin, and Art Spond of Sublimity, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews.

Dan’s family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to the medical team that cared for him both at home and the hospital, especially Elizabeth Hogan. The family is also grateful to his nephews, Fr. Andrew Hart and Fr. Stephen Hart, for their love and guidance.

Visitation will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by a Rosary at 7:00 PM, Friday June 6, 2025 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, Saturday June 7, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Little Rock. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Little Rock at 2:00 PM.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. 501-758-1170.