Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

July 1, 2009, Page 3

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Spiegel uses woodpile for unique design

Lifelong Neillsville resident Bruce Spiegel displays an antique automobile he designed in a woodpile for his granddaughter to enjoy viewing. Spiegel has restored classic autos for many years. (Contributed photo)

By Peter Spicer

Lifelong Neillsville resident Bruce Spiegel has enjoyed working on antique automobiles his entire life and displayed that enthusiasm by creating a unique design out of wood to surprise his granddaughter.

Spiegel and his wife of 59 years, Teresa, have 10 children and 27 grandchildren and live on a Neillsville farm. Bruce Spiegel entertains his grandchildren with his violin and his drawings of antique cars.

The Spiegels have lived at the farm their entire marriage and enjoy hosting their grandchildren.

"They love to [visit]," said Teresa Spiegel.

When one of those grandchildren—six-year-old Aza Knaack of Colfax—came to visit this past spring, a surprise was waiting for her.

Bruce Spiegel, 86, created an antique automobile in a woodpile for her to view.  "It didn’t take me very long," Spiegel explained.

Creating an antique auto was a natural choice for Spiegel to choose as a surprise for Aza.

Antique automobiles are a big part of the Spiegel family; Spiegel is usually at work restoring a car, said Teresa Spiegel.

Two of Spiegel’s sons—Bernard and John—own classic autos that were used in the film "Public Enemies," which hit theaters Wednesday, July 1.

Bernard Spiegel of Oregon owns a 1935 Ford that was used for the film, portions of which were filmed in Wisconsin and starts actor Johnny Depp.

John Spiegel lives in Jim Falls and also owns a car used in "Public Enemies."

Spiegel has worked in "seven different trades" throughout his lifetime; his father was a blacksmith.  Spiegel’s grandparents moved to Neillsville in the 1800s.

The unique design Spiegel created is one his granddaughter can certainly remember and appreciate.