Jennie Sperling

Jennie Rothschild Sperling, age 92, a resident of River Falls, passed away on April 17, 2021.
She was born on June 8, 1928 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Samuel and Mildred (Melenthin) Taub.
Jennie married Bill (Wilbur) Sperling at St. Mathew’s Lutheran Church in Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
on August 17, 1947.

During college at U.W.-Oshkosh, Jennie kept busy as a switchboard operator for “Ma Bell” and
knitting sweaters for our soldiers. Once she had children, she was a stay-at-home mom keeping
busy attending all of her children’s activities, helping out friends, and making the best chocolate
chip cookies in the world. When her children were all in school, she worked in the social studies
resource center at River Falls High School. She also kept busy as a River Falls Lioness, a
member of Ladies’ Aid at church, as a church council member, and being politically active. In
her free time, Jennie loved bowling, playing cards, bingo , traveling, visiting with friends, and
going to the lake.

Jennie was always incredibly supportive of Bill’s career even though it often meant packing up
and moving which they did many times going full circle from Webster to Milwaukee, to Kent,
Ohio, to Delmar, New York,to Ridgefield Connecticut, to Sun Prairie and finally back to River
Falls. They even spent a year traveling and studying in a 20 ft. trailer doing graduate research in
Texas, Washington, D.C.,and at the U.N. in New York City. She also shared Bill’s love of sports
and never missed any event that he coached or announced as “The Voice of the Falcons”
cheering on her team whether in the bleachers or pacing the fence at Ramer Field.

Jennie is survived by her loving husband, Bill; children, Mary Beth (Bryan) Rivard, Susan
Hexum, Mark (Olga Patricia) Sperling, “surrogate son” Tom Kusilek; grandchildren ,Nicole
(Noah) Kelm, Tanner Sperling, Brandon Sperling, Andrew Franko, Aaron Franko, Nathan
Rivard; great grandchildren, Rachelle Kelm, Ava Franko, Emma Rivard, Ryan Rivard;
sister-in-law, Ruth Schultz, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 2:00 PM with a visitation/gathering from 1:00-2:00 PM at Yellow Lake Lutheran Church. A graveside service will immediately follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Webster.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, Wisconsin. Online
condolences can be made at www.swedberg-taylor.com