Obit: Spencer, Marion Russell (1923 - 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Spencer, Edwards, Redig, Etheridge, Keene, Oesch, McCoy, Christenson, Putnam, Luchterhand, Heck, Polzin, Winter

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 12/10/2014

Spencer, Marion Russell (24 March 1923 - 1 December 2014)

Marion Spencer, 91, died Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, at the Gulf Breeze Nursing Home in Gulf Breeze, FL.

Marion Russell Spencer was born March 24, 1923, the son of Lawrence and Mary Spencer in Clarion, IA. He was united in marriage to Joyce Edwards Sept. 29, 1946. They operated a farm in Dows, IA, until 1959. At that time, they moved to Neillsville, where they farmed for many years and were members of the United Methodist Church. Marion was one of the founders of the Happy Hollow Humming Hornets 4-H Club and served as the general leader for several years.

He began his truck driving career, driving truck for his father and eventually driving a semi-truck for Schneider Transport, Inc. During his years of service, Schneider Transport honored him with a plaque recognizing one million miles of driving accident-free.

After retiring from Schneider Transport, he and his wife Joyce moved to Navarre, FL, in 1989 and joined the Navarra United Methodist Church. He enjoyed woodworking and used his skills to build children’s furniture and bookcases for the church and various toys for his grandchildren.

Marion Spencer is survived by three sons and one daughter, Duane (Grace) Spencer of DeFuniak Springs, FL, James (Tess) Spencer of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Walter (Lorraine) Spencer of Neillsville and Mary (Robert) Redig of Marshfield. He is further survived by one brother, Lyman Spencer of Clarion, IA.

Marion and Joyce were blessed with two grandchildren from Duane (Christine Etheridge and Rebecca Keene); three grandchildren from James (Beverly Oesch, Elizabeth McCoy and Jamie Christenson); six grandchildren from Walter (Jennifer Spencer, Theresa Putnam, Angela Luchterhand, Stephanie Heck, Mark Spencer and Wendy Polzin); and two grandchildren from Mary (Kristin Winter and Jonathan Redig). There are 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

Marion was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Joyce of 54 years; his second wife, Mary Jane; and his older brother, Philip Spencer.

Visitation was held Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Rose Lawn Funeral Home in Gulf Breeze, FL, with Rev. Lester Spencer officiating at the funeral service at 3 p.m. Interment following cremation was in the Rose Lawn Cemetery, Gulf Breeze, FL.

Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/donate.