Constance “Connie” Patricia Spafford, age 81, passed away on Oct. 9, 2019. She was born July 4, 1938 in Eagle River, WI to Robert and Caroline (Mattek) Croker.
Connie graduated from the Eagle River High School in 1956 and worked at the Towne and Country clothing store in Eagle River. She married Marvin Spafford on Oct. 22, 1960 and moved to Rhinelander, WI where they operated a potato farm, Spafford Farms, Inc., with David and Judy Spafford, until its sale in 1992. She worked by his side during planting and harvesting while raising four children. They spent seven years outside of Madison, in Deerfield WI. They moved back to the Northwoods in 1999 next to her family’s homestead farm in Eagle River, where they resided for the past 20 years.
She will be remembered for her quiet, yet sharp wit, her love of reading, gardening, being a do it yourself design maven with an acute sense of style well before the popularity of Martha Stewart or HGTV. She will also be remembered for her climb up the north face of Mount Everest, as an international bestselling author and a spelling bee champion (The last three may have been fabricated, but she would have enjoyed seeing them in her obituary).
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Marvin Spafford of Tomahawk; sons Jason Spafford (Cynthia Berger) of Minneapolis, Matt Spafford of West Bend, and Justin Spafford of Madison and daughter Nicolle Spafford (Andy Shaney) of Tomahawk; Grandchildren Brianna Spafford (Rhinelander), Lydia Shaney (Tomahawk), and Lila, Hoyt and Iris Spafford (Minneapolis). She is also survived by her siblings, Robert Croker, Jr. (Karen) of Eagle River, Anita Lansing (John) of Madison, and Nancy Courtney (Bill) of Greenville. Sisters-in-law, Juanita (Don) Kichefski of Rhinelander and Judy (Mick) Phillips of Eagle River, Brother-in-Law, Jim McGinn of Madison and many dear nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Candace Croker-McGinn, brother-in-law, David Spafford and niece Sandy Steiner.
Our Mom was a dedicated partner to Marvin, the love of her life, a devoted Mom and a very proud Grandmother of her five grandchildren.
A memorial visitation for Connie will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with a memorial service at 11:30 a.m., all at the Carlson Funeral Home, Rhinelander. You may leave your private condolences for the Spafford family at www.carlsonfh.com. In lieu of flowers a memorial is being established in Connie’s name to further Alzheimer’s patient care and any such considerations may be directed to her family. The Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414) is serving the Spafford family.