Margaret Erika "Erika" Spinks (Nee Buckmann)

Margaret Erika “Erika” Spinks (nee Buckmann) of Indianapolis, Indiana, was born on January 12, 1933 in Teaneck, NJ to George Frederick Buckmann and Margaret Hormann Buckmann. Her parents originated from Bremen, Germany and emigrated to the United States in the early 1920’s. Erika’s German heritage played a large role throughout her life as she would correspond with family in Germany and keep in contact by visiting them.

Erika was the “baby” of the family, having an older sister Miriam and brother George, “Bucky.” Erika’s happiest childhood memory she once recounted was riding on the back of her sister’s bike as she said, “with the wind blowing in my hair and through my blouse and feeling free as a bird.”  She adored her older brother “Buck” as she called him, who was 7 years her senior and was a protective fatherly figure to his two sisters. They grew up together, and later with their spouses, traveled on cruises and vacations in the US and Germany.

Erika had an adventurous spirit. After graduating from Hackensack High in 1951, her first job was at 18 years old when she would ride the train from Hackensack, NJ to New York City to work for Bell Labs.  She was gifted in organizational and administrative work and rose in her career as a secretary and administrative assistant throughout her working life.

Also, at 18 years of age, Erika met Fred Daryl Spinks, an airman, at a USO dance. She recounted how she and her sister Miriam happened to go to the USO dance one evening when she had not wanted to go. The USO program would bus in the local young women to the dance so that the airmen could meet and greet them and ask them for a dance.  Fred saw Erika and approached her twice, at which time Erika refused both times.  At the third request, Fred told her that this would be the last time he would ask her to dance, and she finally said “Yes.”

That introduction sparked a letter writing correspondence that would last four years while Fred was stationed at an Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. When Erika was 22, Fred proposed marriage, and they were married on December 17, 1955. At that time, they moved into an apartment in Newburgh, NY, where Fred was stationed at West Point, NY.

Erika was to have an even more adventurous life.  Within the year, their first child, Karla Lynn Spinks, was born, at which time Fred was assigned to Wheelus Air Force Base in Tripoli, Libya in Africa.  With her first daughter in tow, and a second child on the way, Erika moved with her husband to the military compound in Africa, just off the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.  Their second daughter, Laura Lee Spinks was born in Tripoli, and a third daughter, Allyson June Spinks, was born in Tripoli in 1959. Allyson was to have a short life, however, as she died at three months of age of a congenital heart defect. Fred was next stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado in 1960, at which time the family moved to Colorado.  Allyson was interred in a military cemetery in Denver.

Erika carried Allyson in her heart her entire life, having her body exhumed from the military cemetery in Colorado in the mid 2000’s and reburied at the Buckmann family cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey.  For her final wishes, Erika requested that Allyson’s stuffed toy “Pluto” be brought to her bedside when she was admitted to the Community Hospital North’s Covid Unit on January 3, 2022.  When asked about her final requests at the hospital, Erika requested that Allyson’s stuffed toy be cremated with her.

While in Colorado from 1960-64, Erika was rewarded in her career as a secretary at Lowry Air Force Base, reporting to a Colonel.  Her adventures continued when the family moved again to Sumter, South Carolina, where Fred was assigned to the military base at Shaw Air Force Base from 1964-68.

Erika enjoyed the slower pace of life in South Carolina where she would ride her bike with her family in the countryside that surrounded Sumter, South Carolina.  She had a strong Christian faith and began teaching Sunday School at the church on the base. She continued practicing her Christian faith throughout her life as evidenced by the many notebooks she filled with Bible verses and thoughts about Jesus and God.  She encouraged this love of God in her children by enrolling them in church Sunday Schools and attending church throughout her lifetime. She was born into the Lutheran tradition, and in her later years joined the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Fred, where they both sang in the choir and volunteered at church.

After South Carolina, the family moved to Indianapolis when Fred retired at 37 years of age from the military, having achieved 20 years of service.  Erika continued rising in her career where she was secretary to the Director of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in downtown Indianapolis.

She was happy to give up this lucrative career, however, when Fred completed Chiropractic College in 1973 and opened his practice, “Eastside Chiropractic Clinic” at Emerson Avenue and 10th street in Indianapolis.  Erika became Fred’s office manager and took over every aspect of managing Fred’s successful practice.  She faithfully performed this work throughout Fred’s 37-year Chiropractic career until Fred’s death in 2010 when Erika was 77.  Losing Fred was one of the saddest experiences of Erika’s life as Fred and Erika were inseparable with a lifelong love for each other.  She was able to overcome her grief and focus her life on her family and friends, continuing her Christian faith by attending Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and later First Trinity Lutheran Church.

During this time, Erika volunteered with “readUP,” United Way’s literacy initiative for local elementary schools. She enjoyed drawing and took lessons at the Indianapolis Art Center where she expanded her drawing talent. Erika enjoyed practicing Karate from ages 63 to her early 70s with Master Kay Myers and achieved 4th degree black belt status.  She would show her chops and laugh, “I can take you down,” when asked about her black belt. She stayed fit throughout her life, going to the Livrite Fitness Center to exercise into her 80s.

Erika was passionate about music. She played piano, and in recent years, Erika took up the Native American flute and learned it from her dear friend, Sally Flint, who gave her lessons.

Erika was known for her gentle, graceful spirit.  She had the 1926 poem, “IF for Girls” by J.P. McEvoy, placed in her living room, which was a source of inspiration for her.  She loved to dress up and wear her sparkling jewelry and enjoy her Clinique cologne.  When she moved to assisted living at Lake Meadows in February 2021 at 88 years of age, her friends commented that she was a bright presence there and could light up a room with her laughter and smile.  She kept the Lord ever present with her as she attended services at Lake Meadows.

Erika quietly passed on January 11, 2022 at 10 pm of Covid pneumonia.  Her daughters, Karla and Laura, were able to be with her at the hospital.  Erika was vaccinated but was in a fragile state after she suffered a fall October 28, 2021.  As a result, she was not able to withstand the ravages of Covid.  A private family service was held on Friday, January 14.  This summer, her family will drive Erika’s urn for burial in the family cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey and celebrate Erika’s life with her extended family.

Erika’s survivors include her daughters, Karla Becker and Laura (Kevin) Kohls; grandchildren, Erika (Evan) Finn; Eric Robert “Robbie” Becker; Caroline (Alex) Emerson; and Stephanie Kohls and five great grandchildren, Annika Finn, Blythe Finn, Fiona Finn, Elowen Finn, and Dashiell Finn.

Her family is blessed to have had Erika in their lives these many years. She is a graceful soul, who is now happy and without pain with the Lord in heaven and reunited with her beloved Fred and her loved ones who preceded her in death.