Allan Wade Spencer

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Allan Wade Spencer, of Waterford, WI on November 5, 2025, at the age of 76.

Allan was born on August 30, 1949, in Oshkosh, WI to Zack and Ethel Spencer. At nine years of age, his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Allan spent most of his formative years hanging out with his cousin Dennis and his best lifelong friend Jim. Allan lived the good life, as many young boys growing up in the 1960’s did, they played baseball most every day, rode their bikes, built forts and were all members of the Boy Scouts trying to earn their badges. Life was simple then and worry free. Allan and his pals did odd jobs for neighbors like mowing grass, shoveling snow and occasionally did small painting jobs. Allan went camping regularly in the Northwoods and on the occasional fishing trips with his extended family. Life was just one long fun adventure that seemed to go on forever.

As Allan approached high school graduation in 1967, with the Vietnam war in full swing and the threat of being drafted a certainty, Allan decided to circumvent a choice being made for him and thus joined the U.S. Air Force.

Allan spent 4 years in the Air Force. After basic training, Allan was deployed to Warren Air Force base, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1969, he was sent to Vietnam. Upon arrival, Allan was immediately assigned to Security Police and continued in this position throughout his remaining time in the service. After Allan’s stint in Vietnam, he returned stateside and was sent to Ellsworth Air Force base in Rapid City, South Dakota. Allan’s main duties at Ellsworth were primarily to provide security for our B52’s and refuelers on their airfield.

While serving in South Dakota, Allan became a private pilot. In October of 1971, he discharged and returned home to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to live with his wife, Kathy, and two daughters, Beth Ann and Dawn. While in Milwaukee, Allan continued his pilot’s education and received his commercial multi-engine pilot’s license. In the late 1980’s, Allan started a flying club with another pilot based out of the Burlington, Wisconsin Airport. Eventually, the club had multiple members, and the group had purchased two planes, a Cessna 150 and a Cessna 177.

Allan played guitar since the late 1970’s, and with his cousin and closest friends (Dennis Ingram, Jim Martins and Dennis Cummings) they formed a band to play for weddings and other special occasions which they enjoyed tremendously. Allan continued to pick occasionally with his guitar just for the fun of it. Allan also worked as a DJ at dedicated events on weekends during this period.

Allan worked in the logistics field in both airfreight and ground transportation for 36 years. He started out driving semi-trucks and moved into dispatch, then into sales. Eventually, Allan became part owner in two logistics companies and formally retired in 2008.

In retirement, Allan volunteered at both the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI and then at the Aurora Burlington Wisconsin Hospital, which was closer to his home. Allan also enjoyed being a member of the grounds crew at the Rivermoor Golf Course in Waterford, WI for 7 years.

Allan resided in Waterford, WI with his current wife, Dawn, for the last 18 years. Allan loved spending time playing golf with his friends and maintaining his own yard. Allan was always on the go and was proud to have visited 48 states. He loved traveling, especially to Sedona, AZ (which was his most favorite place to visit).

Most of all, Allan loved all his family as they were his heart and soul.

We will miss his wry sense of humor and that deep voice everyone immediately recognized.

Allan is survived by his beloved wife, Dawn, his cherished daughters, Beth Ann Spencer and Dawn Spencer, and his dear sister, Linda (Randy) Scharfenberger. Also, survived by his bonus children, Amber Marquardt, Robert (Bobby Marquardt), Andrea Marquardt and five grandchildren, Ayla, Maddox, Aberdeen, Aria and Marshal. He is also survived by his nieces, Brenda Lang and Sheri Jamieson, his grandnephew, Spencer Lang and his former wife, Kathleen Spencer. He will be deeply missed by his best friends, Jim Martins, Alan Treece, Pat Ketterhagen, Danny Steffens, and Mike Brennan and many other friends, family and acquaintances, too numerous to mention. Allan was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Diane and William (Bill) Jamieson and his devoted parents Zack and Ethel Spencer.

Funeral Service will be held in his honor at Krause Funeral Home, at 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin on Monday, November 24, 2025.  Memorial Gathering will start at 10:00 AM with a service following in the chapel at 12:00 PM.

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