Surnames: Spath, Beckendahl, Gonnering, Kirkpatrick, Molacek, Steil, Babler, Fritsche, Ludwig, Boss, Thompson, Rau, Jones, Wainscott, Melvin, Baker, Fruittrell, Selbach

----Sources: Fremont Tribune (Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska) 11 June 2004

Spath, Arlene Francis (16 May 1923 - 7 June 2004)

Arlene F. Spath, 81, of Dorchester, Wis., died Monday, June 7, 2004, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, Wis.

Arlene Beckendahl was born May 16, 1923, in Stanton County. She graduated from Stanton High School and taught three years before her marriage to Warren Spath on Oct. 6, 1946. They farmed in Nebraska until 1958 when they moved to Dorchester and farmed there until 1978. She cooked for Holway Elementary for three years. In 1980, she started cooking for Dorchester Elementary School, retiring in the spring of 2002.

Survivors include: her husband; a daughter, Shirley (Mrs. Leon) Gonnering of Marshfield; three sons, Melvin Spath of Eau Claire, Wis., Merlin Spath of Lisle, Ill., and Lynn (and wife, Brenda) Spath of Medford, Wis.; two sisters, Dorothy Kirkpatrick of St. Joseph, Mo., and Betty Molacek of Columbus; two sisters-in-law, Ruth (Mrs. Bob) Steil of Scribner and Helen Spath of North Bend; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.

The funeral will be 2:30 p.m. Friday at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stetsonville, Wis., with the Rev. James Babler officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Maurina Funeral Home in Dorchester and continues one hour prior to service time at the church. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

----Sources: Oshkosh Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wis.) 10 June 2004

Arlene Spath

DORCHESTER -Arlene Francis Spath, 81, Dorchester, died Monday, June 7, 2004, at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stetsonville. The Rev. James Babler will officiate. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Art Fritsche, Art Ludwig, Earl Boss, Reul Thompson, William Rau and Jim Jones.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Maurina Funeral Home in Dorchester, and from 1:30 p.m. until service time Friday at the church.

Arlene was born May 16, 1923, in Stanton County, Neb., to William and Mary (Wainscott) Beckendahl. Arlene graduated from Stanton High School and taught three years before being united in marriage to Warren Spath on Oct. 6, 1946. They farmed in Nebraska until 1958, when they moved to Dorchester, town of Little Black, and farmed there until 1978. Arlene cooked for Holway Elementary School for three years. In 1980, she started cooking for the Dorchester Elementary School, retiring the spring of 2002. Her greatest passions were spending time with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed her flowers, playing bingo, playing cards with her friends and cooking.

Arlene is survived by her husband of 57 years, Warren Spath; her children, Shirley (Leon) Gonnering of Marshfield, Melvin Spath of Eau Claire, Merlin Spath of Lisle, Ill., and Lynn (Brenda) Spath of Medford; seven grandchildren, Kari (Andrew) Selbach of Waukesha, Heather (fiancé Andrew Melvin) Gonnering of Milwaukee, Adam Gonnering of Platteville, Jody (Scott) Graham of Newport, R.I., Jason (Lisa) Barlow of Mesa, Ariz., Tracy (Jason) Baker of Eaton, N.Y., and Misty (Marlin) Fruittrell of Alpharetta, Ga.; six great-grandchildren, Lauren and Nathan Selbach, Gracie, Emma, and Ethan Baker and Carson Fruittrell; two sisters, Dorothy Kirkpatrick of St. Joseph, Mo., and Betty Molacek of Columbus, Neb.; two sisters-in-law, Ruth (Bob) Steil of Scribner, Neb., and Helen Spath of North Bend, Neb.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Phyllis Spath; and one brother, William Beckendahl.