Fern Nina Spafford

Nina “Fern” King was born October 7, 1921 in Spooner, WI the daughter of Charles and Anastasia (Brown) King. She attended school in Spooner and then graduated from the University of Wisconsin Superior with a Bachelor’s Degree and the University of Minnesota with a Master’s Degree in Education. She began work as a teacher in Shell Lake, WI for a few years before taking a position with the Spooner Elementary School in 1941. On May 29, 1945 Fern was joined in marriage to William Reau Spafford. Fern continued teaching until her retirement in 1982. Teaching was her passion and she was devoted to educating the youth of Spooner. The English and Social Studies Curriculums developed by Fern for the Spooner School District was recommended by Doctor Poole of the University of Wisconsin Education Department to be used as a guideline for school districts throughout the state of Wisconsin. She received many requests from various school districts for copies of these curriculums. Fern enjoyed playing bridge and helping at the food pantry. She was a devout catholic with unshakeable faith who attended St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Spooner.

Fern is survived by her two children, Mike Spafford (finance’ Terri Thompson) of Spooner, Patricia (Gary) Dusing of Rockford, IL; two granddaughters, Brett Spafford of Black River Falls, WI and Ashley Spafford of Portage, WI; and several nieces and nephews.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; and one grandson, Michael.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7th, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Spooner with Father Ed Anderson officiating. A visitation for Fern will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6th at the Dahl Funeral Home in Spooner. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Spooner. Casket bearers are Tony Baier, Jim Bethel, Jim Heim, Dwight Marquardt, Jim “Nates” Marx and Jerry Thompson.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the St. Francis de Sales School.