Obituary of Allen Spencer

Allen Leonard Spencer, 80, Wisconsin Rapids, died late Thursday evening, June 20, 2013 at Ministry Saint Joseph?s Hospital in Marshfield. Services will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 25th at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Rev. John Grohs will officiate. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, June 24th at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Center and from 10:00 AM on Tuesday until the time of services at the church. Allen was born in Necedah, WI on August 15, 1932 to Albert and Lorene (Heiniman) Spencer. He married Barbara J. Kurz on March 31, 1951 in Wisconsin Rapids. Allen graduated from Lincoln High School in 1950 and from the FBI National Academy in 1972. He joined the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department as a patrolman in October 1955 and was promoted to Sergeant in November 1961, appointed Detective in 1966, and appointed Chief of Police in June 1971 and continued in that role until his retirement in January of 1988. Allen was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Rapids Elks Lodge #693, Wisconsin Rapids Optimist Club, Wisconsin Rapids Professional Police Association and was past president of the Wisconsin Police Chief?s Association. Allen achieved many milestones in his life and along the way realized the real value of education. Upon his appointment to WRPD, he devoted his life to law enforcement. After his retirement, he felt it was time to step aside, where he dabbled in woodworking, and enjoyed outdoor activities including: gardening, fishing, boating, camping, and spending time with his family at their cottage on the Eau Pleine Flowage. Some of his most memorable times were duck hunting with Don Swanson and Don Thompson and deer hunting with his son, grandson, and his friend Elton Polansky in Buffalo County. He also enjoyed spending winters in Mercedes, Texas for many years with his wife Barbara playing cribbage and golf and watching the wild life at his home on the river in Biron. Survivors include: his wife, Barbara, Wisconsin Rapids; one daughter: Terry (Robert) Lee, Wisconsin Rapids; two sons: Gary (Kristen) Spencer, Wisconsin Rapids; Greg (Shelley) Spencer, Peoria, IL; seven grandchildren: Christopher Lee (fiancé Linda Huennekens), Madison, WI; Andrea (Bobby) Dell, Huntersville, NC; Stacey (Tony) Van Der Wielen, DeForest, WI; Rebecca (Chad) LaBarge, Portage,WI; Ryan Spencer, Wisconsin Rapids; and Drew and Nate Spencer, Peoria, IL; seven great-grandchildren; brother: Charles (Fran) Spencer, Winona, MN; sister: Lois (Arthur) Gazeley, Wisconsin Rapids; brother-in-law: Donald Knuth, Wisconsin Rapids; two sisters-in-law: Monique Kurz, Corpus Christi, TX and Yolanda Kurz, Silver Springs, Maryland and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, Dale and infant sister, Marian. Allen?s family will be establishing a memorial in his name for students attending the Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement program at Mid-State Technical College.