Allan Albert Spaulding
Allan Albert Spaulding
On Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, Allan Albert Spaulding, loving husband and father of four boys, passed away, surrounded by family, at Riverside Assisted Living in Neillsville, WI at age 88.
Celebrating a remarkable life, well lived: Al was born Aug. 29, 1937, in Arcadia, WI, to Albert and Dorothy (Ginther) Spaulding, the oldest of two sons. He grew up in the west-central Wisconsin communities of La Crosse and Melrose, loving athletics and embracing the vibrant agrarian community, graduating from Melrose High School in 1955.
Al met Lois Bredlow, the Jackson County home economics agent, in Black River Falls, WI, and wed July 25, 1959, at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Watertown, WI. In 1959, the young couple purchased their first piece of real estate north of Black River Falls on West Road, known as Halls Creek Tree Farm.
The young Spaulding family relocated to Wauwatosa, WI, where Al was a member of the Wauwatosa Fire Department. They returned to Black River Falls, opening Spaulding Texaco in 1964. The Spauldings were remarkable, lifelong business owners and entrepreneurs. In addition to Spaulding Texaco, endeavors include, Al’s Big Chief Truck Stop & Restaurant, Trucks of Wisconsin, The River House Restaurant, Black River Falls’ beloved Tastee Treat and the horse and livestock operations associated with Thunderbird Farms. Of course, exhibiting champion Morgan horses across the country was the day’s order.
Al, a pillar in the Black River Falls community, was a longtime Black River Falls volunteer fireman, city council member and church council member and active supporter of the area food pantries. He worked closely with Dr. Charles Aprahamian to pioneer emergency medical services training (EMS) to Jackson County. He served as director of emergency management in Jackson County and then La Crosse County, retiring in 2003. Anyone ever spending time with Al knows his master storyteller propensity, loving to recant stories particularly of many interesting escapades in his emergency management roles.
Al avidly researched and archived reams of data on Spaulding family genealogy and is a family authority on Spaulding family history since Edward Spalding’s 1619 Jamestown landing. A voracious reader and always the avid sports fan, particularly high school basketball, closely following his children’s and grandchildren’s high school and college athletic careers, seldom missing any of their games. A longtime member of Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church, he worshiped regularly, enjoying summer Sunday services on Lake Arbutus in Hatfield.
Allan is preceded in death by his spouse, Lois, and parents, Albert and Dorothy Spaulding; and survived by sons Scott, Craig, Jeff and Kevin; grandchildren Justin, Sara, Jack, Emma, Spencer and Abby; two great-grandsons, Jaden and Cru; one great-granddaughter, Bryn; his brother, Daniel Spaulding of Onalaska, WI; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitations are Monday, March 16, 2026, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Torgeson’s Funeral Home, 408 N. Water Street, Black River Falls and at the church, 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. Funeral services are Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m. at Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church, 115 North 5th Street, Black River Falls. A luncheon immediately follows the service at the church. Internment is 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at Melrose Cemetery, ST HWY 54, Melrose, WI.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials made to Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church, Interfaith Volunteers Black River Falls or Friends Sharing Food of Jackson County in Allan’s name.