| Notes |
- September 12, 2009
Spence, Vivian
Vivian Spence, age 86, passed away on Friday, September 11, 2009, with family at her side. Vivian was born in Bear Creek on April 26, 1923, to Louis and Alvina Lorge and graduated as Valedictorian of Bear Creek High School in 1941. She married Melvin W. Spence at St. Mary's Church and together they raised three sons and a daughter. After a brief time farming, Vivian and her husband Mel ran Central Meat Market in Clintonville from 1949 until 1958. Then from 1961 - 1999 ran Spences Market in Bear Creek. Vivian worked as a manager and clerk adding Grandma's Deli in her later years making many special dishes for their customers. She worked in the store along with her son William well into her 70s. While working in the store she also cared for her sick mother-in-law Mabel, her brother Earl, and husband Melvin. She often cared for other relatives and friends and provided meals plus a comforting supportive place for them to live.
Vivian was a devoted member of St. Mary's Parish serving as member of the Parish Council, sacristan, lector, Eucharistic minister and leader of Morning Prayer. She worked at the St. Mary's Sauerkraut Festival until age 85. Her strong faith sustained her in many difficult times. Vivian loved her bible study group, bridge club, travel, and visits with friends and relatives. She enjoyed entertaining babies and children of all ages. Vivian delighted in learning new things. She was a writer, a story teller, and a community resource person.
Vivian is survived by her sons: William (Kathleen) Spence, Bear Creek; Stan (Catherine Fontanazza) Spence, Milwaukee; Robert (Susan) Spence, Lake Geneva; and her daughter, Sister Stephanie Spence, ANG, Keshena; her six grandchildren: Jacqueline (fiance Tim Nielsen) Jennifer (Rob) Bultman, Jodi Spence (Michele Last), Janet (Mike) Huebner, Benjamin Spence, Tony (Heather) Spence; and seven great-grandchildren: Jessy, Jill, and Jenna Surprise, Spencer and Mitchell Bultman, Nicholas and Anna Huebner, and Teegan and soon-to- be-born Hadley Spence; one sister, Frances Knack, Waupaca; three sister-in-laws: Norma Fuhrman, Neenah; Rosemary (Allen) Paul, West Bend; Marion Lorge, Bear Creek; many nieces and nephews and special family friends: Pamela Spence, Sister Carmelyn Gentrup, Gail Swanke, Jon Surprise, friends in the community and all who called her "Grandma Vivian."
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin; her parents; her sisters: Florence Jarvais, Jeanette Wright; her brothers, Earl and Victor Lorge.
A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, September 14, 2009, at 11 a.m.at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bear Creek. Friends may visit at the Cline & Hansen Funeral Home in New London on Sunday, September 13, 2009, from 3-7 p.m., a 6:30 p.m. prayer service will be held. Visitation will also be held at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The family is accepting donations on Vivian's behalf to St. Mary's Church front landscaping fund and Hospice.
The family would like to thank the staff of New London Family Medical Center and ThedaCare Hospice for their compassionate care of our mother and all the family and friends who visited her during the final days of her illness.
Cline & Hanson
Funeral Home
209 W. Cook St.
New London 920-982-3232
www.clinehanson
funeralhome.com
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1923 - 2009 (86 years)
