Commander David L. "Dai" Spickett, Jr., U.S. Navy, Retired, passed away at his home in O'Fallon on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at the age of 62.

Dai graduated from Wayzata High School in Wayzata, Minn. in 1970. He received an appointment to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., completing his BS degree in 1974. He went on to receive an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Dai was honored to serve his country for an additional 20 years, most notably as a pilot of his beloved P-3 Orion. He continued to be a staunch advocate for our active duty service men and women and all veterans. His unshakable patriotism and devotion to this country was trumped only by his commitment to the family and friends that he so loved. He excelled as a naval officer, but even more as a husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. We wish him "fair winds and following sea" . . . and most of all, peace.

He is preceded in death by his parents David and Evelyn Spickett; and sister, Cindy Gaydos.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Christine; son and daughter-in-law Tailer and Linda Spickett; sister and brother-in-law Diana and Bruce Illies; brothers-in-law Bill Diers and Mark Gaydos and cherished nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be welcomed by the Wounded Warrior Project and/or the Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, Fairview Heights, Ill.

A memorial service to honor Dai will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home in O'Fallon, Ill.