Ellen Spear

The funeral service celebrating the life of Ellen Mae Spear of Wadena, will be held at 11:00 am. on Saturday, April 6, at the Joyful Spirit Methodist Church in rural Wadena, with Pastor Riccardo Alcoser presiding. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, MN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You may view the service by going to Schuller Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services' FACEBOOK page or YouTube page. (approximately 5 minutes before the service begins.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ellen, age 93, passed away at the Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples, MN, on March 29, 2024. Ellen was born to Louis and Jessie (Gordon) Gemmill on November 25, 1930, at their home in Elm Creek Township, Martin County, MN. After completing high school, Ellen married Ralph “Shorty” Spear on June 20, 1948. They lived in Sherburn, where the four boys were born, later moving to the Bertha area to begin farming. Known for her resilience and adaptability, Ellen held various jobs over the years, especially after Ralph’s stoke at an early age. Community members will remember her as a bookkeeper at Uselman Electric, a Homecrest Ind. employee, and the spark who started the Nutrition Center on north Jefferson Street. Her energy didn’t end there. At home, she was a skillful seamstress, quilter, and gardener. Her family always looked forward to her baked goods, especially her delicious homemade ginger cookies! A recipe now treasured by them all. Most important to Ellen were the hours she could spend with her family along with volunteering and quilting with friends at Joyful Spirit Methodist Church. Preceding Ellen in death were her husband, Ralph; parents, Louis and Jessie; son, Doug; sister Bonnie Birch, and brothers-in-law Cliff Birch and Earl Tokle. Surviving Ellen are her sons: Bill (Judy) Spear of Wadena, Dan Spear, and Brad (Pam Roehl) Spear of Hewitt; daughter-in-law Penny Spear; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; sister Twyla Tokle, along with numerous extended family and friends. Honorary casket bearers will be all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Serving as casket bearers will be Caleb Spear, Jaxson Brown, Johnny Marchwick, Chad Harting, BJ Spear and Cody Spear.

Ellen Spear

November 25, 1930 - March 29, 2024