Nile J. Spears

Nile J. Spears

June1961 – January 5, 2024

Nile J. Spears was born on June 4, 1961, in Rupert Idaho. His parents were Calvin Short and Barbara Nussbaum. Calvin was a truck driver and Barbara worked at Dollie’s Café, a restaurant owned by Nile’s grandmother, Dollie Dowell. The family moved to Pocatello soon after his birth when his dad went to work for Garrett Freight Lines. In 1965 he moved back to Rupert with his mom and brother. In 1972 his mother married Bill Stennett, a loan manager, and the family relocated to central Illinois. Nile moved back to Idaho for his high school years where he played basketball and worked in several part-time jobs. 

Nile attended Idaho State University where he studied history, anthropology, and philosophy. While working part-time at a microchip processing facility, Nile met Mariann Romero, who became his life partner and wife. Nile and Mariann’s daughter, Maggie, was born in early 1985 and soon after the family moved to Illinois. Working with his stepfather, Bill Stennett, Nile learned the nuts and bolts of the finance industry and started a successful career that spanned almost four decades.

Nile returned to Idaho in 1988 joining Idaho Central Credit Union where he worked for over 20 years. His second daughter, Heidi, was born in 1992. Nile was active in Habitat for Humanity, Ducks Unlimited, St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, My Brother’s Table Soup Kitchen, and other volunteer activities in Pocatello. He took time for hunting, fishing, camping, and exploring local hot springs. Nile enjoyed studying the history of the American West. He left Idaho Central in 2012 and a year later accepted a job at Community First Credit Union in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was active as a community volunteer, serving on the Board of Directors for the Attic Community Theater and helping manage the Fox City Marathon each year. He also supported Mariann’s volunteer work with Project Linus and Holy Spirit Parish.

Curiosity about the world was Nile’s touchstone. He could talk to anyone about anything, from sports, films, music and popular culture to economics, religion, philosophy, and science. An avid reader, Nile collected many different books and was especially interested in philosophy, history, and nature. He enjoyed all types of music, from jazz to country to classic rock and had an expansive music collection. He loved all kinds of films but was especially interested in the forgotten films of the 1950s and 1960s. Nile enjoyed a good beer, an Old Fashioned at one of Wisconsin’s many supper clubs and growing an elaborate garden each year. 

Nile is survived by his wife Mariann (Little Chute, WI) and his daughters Maggie Yackeschi (Kyle) of Ketchikan, AK, Heidi Weakly (Rob) of Seattle, WA, their daughter Maya, and Kahlia Inglis of Sydney, Australia and her two children. Nile is also survived by his mother Barabara Stennett, Rupert, ID, his stepmother Sharon Short, Sandy, UT, his mother-in-law Eleanor Romero, Pocatello, ID, his brothers Brant Short (Dayle) of Flagstaff, AZ, Jess Stennett (Amy) of Coeur d'Alene, ID, and sisters Margo Culley (Devin) of Paul, ID, Kerrie Lewis (Darrell) of Taylorsville, UT, Becky Martinez of Midvale, UT and numerous other family members. 

Nile was preceded in death by his father Calvin (2021), his stepfather Bill (2010), and his father-in-law Paul Romero (2006). Nile made a difference in the lives of everyone he knew and will be greatly missed. 

Funeral services for Nile Spears will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday August 17, 2024 at St. Joesph’s Catholic Church 455 North Hayes St., Pocatello, Idaho with Fr. Emil Parafiniuk officiating.

Lunch and conversation immediately following the service at Veterans Memorial Building 300 N Johnson Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nile J. Spears, please visit our floral store.