William "Bill" Spencer

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William “Bill” Dale Spencer, age 79, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, formerly of La Crosse, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 1, 2021.

Bill was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin to parents, William Clyde and Myrtle Leone (nee Benson) Spencer on March 24, 1942. He proudly served his country in the United States Army and later he was a commander for the American Legion Post 47, located in Hastings, Minnesota. Bill graduated from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse with his bachelor’s degree. He was also involved in the La Crosse Lions, Twin Cities Fraud Committee, The Cottage Grove Public Safety Commission, and The National Rifle Association. Bill will be remembered for his love of long car rides, antiquing, animals, hiking, camping, yard work, motorcycles, and frequenting garage sales. He was an avid collector of historical post cards of La Crosse, Wisconsin. What brought him the most joy was spending cherished times with his family and most of all his grandchildren. He worked hard and always provided for his family but also would say “I work to live, not live to work.” He had a witty sense of humor that made it easy to connect with everyone.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Iris Hanson; parents-in-law, LaVonne Mindrum and Donald Taylor; and brothers-in-law, Robert Haug and Richard Bolger.

He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Kathryn (nee Taylor); daughters, Melanie (nee Spencer) (Jason) Fitchett and Amy (nee Soller) (Kevin) Kemmetmueller; grandchildren, William Spencer Fitchett, Caden Kirby Kemmetmueller, and Camden Kathryn Kemmetmueller; sisters, Nita Haug and Mary Bolger; in-laws, Herbie Hanson, Doug (Ann) Taylor, Dan (Jeanne) Taylor, Tammy Larkin (LeRoy Wilder), and Sandy Fournier; many nieces and nephews; and loving dog, Sugar.

Gathering of family and friends 5-7 PM, Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN, 55016.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org).