| Notes |
- Obit: http://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2016-02-17/aldythe-springer.html
FISHER – Aldythe "Aldie" Mae Springer, 88, formerly of Fisher, died peacefully at 5:10 a.m. Sunday (Feb. 14, 2016) at Country Health Care in Gifford, where she had been a resident.
Celebration of life services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at the church. Private burial will be in East Bend Memorial Gardens, Fisher.
Aldie was born to Stephen and Inez Ulrich Zehr on a farm near Flanagan, Ill., on May 26, 1927. She had two beloved older brothers, Richard and Melvin ("Hap") Zehr. Aldythe was a direct descendant of Henry Egly, an Amishman who in 1864 founded the branch of Anabaptism known today as the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches. She was baptized as a youth and joined the Salem Mennonite Church, Flanagan.
Aldie graduated from Flanagan High School, having earned numerous vocal awards. After high school, she worked as a receptionist for a dentist in Pontiac and then at the State Farm offices in Bloomington, where she delivered mail on roller skates.
In 1948, she married Paul "Pete" Springer from Foosland, whom she met on a blind date. They were married for 66 years, living in Fisher where they raised three children, P. Gregory (Lee) Springer of Urbana, Susan Elaine (Glen) Kliewer of Hillsboro, Kan., and Beth Ellen (Mark) Ingold of Fisher.
Along with Pete (who preceded her in death on March 14, 2015), Aldie expressed constant joy in living and selfless sharing. Together, the couple displayed a streak of adventurousness. But Aldie enjoyed her own adventures. She made many trips to Kansas to visit Susie, sometimes traveling with Beth (if Pete couldn't go), or going by train. On one occasion, she was on the wrong car for exiting the train and had to jump as it started leaving the station!
As Pete renovated or built nine different homes in the village of Fisher, Aldie became accustomed to packing and moving. In 1962, the family moved to Puerto Rico to work for a mission foundation for one year. Aldie learned to sing the church songs in Spanish she did not understand.
Aldie loved harmonious vocal music, religious and secular, and sang in a women's trio that performed at church and public events such as the Fisher Fair. She was the first in their church, East Bend, to wear a wedding ring, where adornment was frowned on at the time, and broke barriers by sitting with her husband, rather than on the women's side of the sanctuary.
In addition to homemaking, Aldie worked for years as a telephone operator in Fisher and later became the area representative for Avon. Many of her customers saw her as more than a sales rep, but as a confidante and friend. Aldie liked gardenias, milk glass, sewing, calligraphy, crocheting and Sweet 16 basketball.
Friends of her children were always welcome in Aldie's household and eager to visit the warmth in her home. She excelled at baking pies, cookies and her signature cranberry whipped cream salad. The family drove cross-country, traveled and camped throughout the United States, exploring the Rocky Mountains and visiting cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Later, she and Pete traveled and camped to explore New England and all the remaining states. Aldie always expressed her love for the mountains, remembering the words of the Psalmist, "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."
Aldie has seven grandchildren, Henry Springer, Ernie Springer, Myles Springer, Jocelyn (Darren) Busick, Meredith (Caleb) Sarver, Benjamin (Nicole) Ingold and Amanda Ingold; and five great-grandchildren, Gracie, Ryan, Olivia and Josiah Ingold and Abilene Busick.
She will be long remembered for her smile, her faithfulness, spirit, and the love and joyfulness she radiated to all who knew her.
|
1927 - 2016 (88 years)
