Jean Spensley

Jean E. Spensley, (93), passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 in Platteville. She was born in Prescott, WI, on June 20, 1921, the daughter of John Peter and Elizabeth (Wolf) Betzel. She graduated in 1939 from Prescott High School and then attended Globe Business College in St. Paul, MN. After working at the Wisconsin Seed Certification Service Branch Office in Prescott, she joined the Navy WAVES in 1944 and served at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos, CA. After military service, she again worked for the Seed Certification Service, this time in LaCrosse, WI., where she met Donald G. Spensley, who was working in that city for the Jacques Seed Company of Prescott. They were married June 21, 1947, at the First Congregational Church in Prescott. They lived and farmed in the Platteville area their entire married life until his death in March of 2006. She was a member of the First Congregational UCC of Platteville and their Ruth Circle. She was also a charter member of the Grant County Genealogical Society.
She is survived by her children: son John of Rewey and his children, Sheryl (Justin) Barak and Shane Spensley; daughter Donna (Jim) Lawinger of Platteville and their children, Jaime (Jason) Bell and Jess (Jessica) Lawinger; daughter JoAnne Spensley of Davis, IL, and her children, Chet (Amanda) Chriss and Carrie (Rich) Hofmaster; son Tom (LuAnn) of Platteville and their children Justin (Tracy) Spensley and Brianna (Brent) Belongea; daughter Dianne Machado of Menomonee Falls and her children, Katie (Jared) Baroni and Molly (Mike Nodolf) Machado; son Mark (Renee) of Platteville and their children, Casey (Emily Olson) and Kelsey (Nate Baliff) Spensley; and step-daughter Sally (Ken) Kalscheur of Manitowoc. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Jacob and Joshua Bell; Caden, Coy and Crew Chriss; Brenna and Richie Hofmaster, Carter and Cameron Spensley, Adelyn and Easton Belongea. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Ruth Spensley of Platteville and Ann Betzel Meyer of New Richmond as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Viola Lindberg, her twin brother John Betzel, her brother LeRoy in infancy, and granddaughter Baby Girl Lawinger.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Platteville. Rev. Zayna Thompson will officiate. Chapel military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5274. Burial will be at Big Patch Cemetery, Platteville. Friends may call from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, or after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Jean E. Spensley Memorial fund. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com
The family extends a tremendous thank you to the staff at Sienna Crest, St. Jude's Hospice and Dr. Jeffrey White for their wonderful care and compassion.