Elmar Spohr, president of W. Muller USA Inc., the U.S. operation of the German blow molding machinery maker, died at University Clinic in Bonn, Germany, on Oct. 27, the first day of K 2010.
He was 40.
Spohr's death stunned his family, employees of W. Muller GmbH, customers and colleagues from around world — many of whom attended the K show in Dusseldorf. Many attended a memorial service held in Germany Oct. 31. A U.S. service was scheduled for Nov. 7 in West Springfield, Mass.
“He had a lot of friends in the industry. It was really a great loss,” said Brigitte Muller, managing director of W. Muller GmbH.
Spohr served as president of W. Muller USA in Agawam, Mass., for the last 10 years. He fell ill suddenly on the morning of Oct. 27 and was taken by ambulance to the clinic in Bonn, where he passed away of an aortic aneurism in the afternoon.
In Dusseldorf, people in the blow molding industry stopped by W. Muller's booth to write their memories of Spohr in a book. The company also displayed a sign in his memory and had copies of a funeral program.
Survivors include his wife, Andrea Spohr of Westfield, Mass., two sons, Daniel and Sean, his brother Stephen Spohr, and his parents, Joe and Monika Spohr.
His father, Joe Spohr, is a former senior vice president for business development for Graham Machinery Group in York, Pa.
W. Muller USA issued a statement, saying: “Elmar has left an indelible mark on all of us and he will be sorely missed in our industry as well as in our hearts. He genuinely loved his profession, his colleagues and most especially his family. His zest for life, travel, adventure, and his enjoyment for meeting new people and making new friends, was unmatched.”