Emily Springer

Emily Louise Wentzel Springer passed away at home Thursday, August 14, 2014. A memorial service will be 9 a.m. Saturday, September 20, in the chapel of the Pantheon (mausoleum) of Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Texas. The mausoleum is located east of Interstate 27 between SE 27th Street and SE 34th Street, 1 (806) 376-4538.
Born September 3, 1918, the daughter of Edwin F. Wentzel and Erma Anee Leiby Wentzel, she was one of six surviving children who grew up in the village of Winneconne, Wisconsin where she finished high school in a one room school house. She graduated from Whitewater Teachers College (now, the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater) where she was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. Later, she received a Masters Degree in mathematics from West Texas State University (now, West Texas A&M University).
In the Second World War, 1945, Emily Wentzel joined the American Red Cross and she was sent to Hawaii and to Inchon, Korea where she helped operate "Awaniko Inn" an enlisted men's club established by the American Red Cross for U.S. servicemen. She often counseled enlisted men who received "Dear John" letters. While in Inchon, she met army officer, Berl M. Springer, who became her husband. They married after Emily had an almost fatal case of Diphtheria in Korea. In 1946, Berl and Emily settled permanently in Amarillo, TX where Berl was employed as an engineer with Southwestern Public Service Company later becoming manager of the Rate Department, then Vice President, and ultimately President and Chief Executive Officer.
Emily became a teacher in the Amarillo Public Schools and taught mathematics for close to thirty years at Austin Junior High School (now Austin Middle School) in Room 106. For years, she worked with the school's "Student Council" helping students gain leadership skills. In the summer, she would drive student council members to out of town workshops. She stayed up many nights grading student math worksheets/tests and often stayed after school to help students - refusing to let any of her students fail. Near the end of her teaching career, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers asked her to sit on a Texas committee which helped developed new Algebra I and II textbooks. Emily was a founding member of Chapter E of PEO and in 1984 assisted with the PEO State Convention which was held in Amarillo, Texas. She was also a member of Chapter CD of PEO, Waco.
She was an excellent cook, was known for her oil paintings, embroidery and excellent handwriting. She collected art work, played Bridge, and loved luncheons and good parties with family and friends. Berl and Emily had a second home in Palm Desert, California near Emily's sisters, Vera Kitchen, Mavis Bingen and Ila Zimmerman. Two brothers, Clarence Wentzel and Gordon Wentzel lived their lives in Winneconne, Wiconsin. Berl and Emily Springer were founding members of the "Homebuilders" class of the Polk Street Methodist Church and Berl participated as one of the Homebuilders class Presidents. Later, Emily joined the First Methodist Church, Waco. They had two children, Janet and George.
Emily W. Springer is survived by one sister, Ila Zimmerman; daughter, Janet L. Springer-Eichler; son, George E. Springer; son-in law, David Eichler; daughter-in-law, Janie J. Springer; grandson, George Mark Springer; granddaughter, Elizabeth J. Springer; granddaughter-in-law, Brandy B. Springer; great-granddaughters, Kylie Boyce, Katelynn Springer and Madeline Springer; and great grandson, Nash Springer.
In memory, donations may be sent to any of the following: Polk Street Methodist Church, Amarillo, TX (806) 374-2891 or First Methodist Church of Waco, P.O. Box 7736, Waco, TX 76714-7736; the Alzheimer's Association in Amarillo, TX (806) 372-8693; Alzheimer's Association, Waco, TX (254) 753-7722; the American Cancer Society and the PEO Texas State Chapter Projects Fund, 5960 W. Parker Road, Suite 278 #335, Plano, TX 75093.