On 31 Oct 1918 a cablegram was received by Harold’s parents announcing his death in Preny, France. It was 3 years before his body was returned home.

Funeral services were held 23 Oct 1921 at the Community Church in Frankville with the Arthur Brandt Post of Postville in charge. Rev. Woodall of Decorah was chaplain and was assisted by the local pastor Rev. Peck. The flag draped casket was carried by 6 friends - all of whom had also seen service overseas. The young ladies of his Sunday School class acted as flower girls. Harold was buried in the Frankville Cemetery with full military honors. After the casket was lowered, a salute was fired, taps sounded and he was left to rest in his native land.

Harold was the only Frankville boy to lose his life in World War I. The people of the community wished to honor his memory. A beautiful strained glass window was placed in the front of the Frankville Community Church as a memorial to Harold.

Sphar, Clifford and Gladys (Doubek)

(Gladys (Doubek) Sphar)

25th Anniversary, 1961

Clifford John Sphar was born 7 Jul 1911 near Castalia. His parents were “W.B.” William Burdell and Clara (Timmerman) Sphar.

On 3 Oct 1936 Clifford married Gladys Viola Theresa Doubek in Lancaster, MO. Gladys was born 9 Jul 1912 near Calmar. She was the daughter of Joseph and Clara (Hauber) Doubek. Gladys’ great grandparents Frank and Rose (Gartner) Huber built "The Smallest Church in the World" near Festina.

Clifford and Gladys had 1 daughter, Patricia Ann (b. Waterloo, IA). Pat married Norman Pankow 30 Dec 1954. Norman and Pat had 3 children: Katherine Ann; Norman, Jr.; and Kenneth James. Norman died 28 Nov 1994. Gladys’ family was always very important to her.

Clifford and Gladys farmed near Castalia for a number of years. In addition, Gladys worked at the Bucheit Produce, Calmar for 26 years. Clifford died 29 Aug 1976. Gladys also lived in Postville and Ridgeway. Gladys died 4 Oct 1995. She was a resident of the Aase Haugen Home, Decorah for the last few months of her life.

Spilde, John and Julia (Spilde)

(Evelyn (Thornton) Seegmiller)

John Spilde family

John P Spilde was born in 1849 in Hardanger, Norway. He immigrated to the United States with his parents, Paul and Anna Spilde, in the late 1850's. The family settled in the Locust area in Pleasant Twp., Winneshiek Co. John’s siblings were: Lars, Hans, Mike, Lena, Anna, Gertrude and Sigrid. His father, Paul, served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Paul disappeared after escaping from a Confederate hospital in Kentucky. Anna was awarded a pension as a widow of a veteran in 1897. Anna is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

John married Guro Julia” Spilde in 1872 at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church parsonage. Julia was born in 1851 in Norway. Her parents were Nils and Synova Spilde who remained in Norway. Julia and her sister Cecelia came to the United States as young women. Cecelia married Ole Faldet. Julia and Cecelia lived near each other in Pleasant Twp. all their lives.

1897-98 at the old Spilde house near Canoe Store.

John and Julia’s first home was a log cabin located north across the creek from the Canoe Store in Pleasant Twp. This log cabin was used as a private residence until the late 1960’s. In the 1970’s the cabin was dismantled