Ethel B Spencer went home to her lord and savior on February 5, 2015, survived by her nieces and nephews:  Linda (Philip) Becker, Virginia Zimmerman, Laura (Peter) Weinberg, Don (Judy) Gross, Bill (Candice) Gross, Donna Bicknese, Nina Bicknese, Alma Bicknese, Beth (Zaro Razak) Bicknese and Doug (Margo Klein) Bicknese, as well as many loving grand nieces and nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert C Spencer, her mother and father William & Alma Bicknese and her siblings – Viola Bicknese, Marie Gross and Willis Bicknese.Ethel led an active and adventurous life. She was born in Itasca IL., and grew up in the small German speaking community of Addison IL. She attended night school at Northwestern University and graduated with a BA. Ethel utilized her knowledge of banking and education to pioneer the implementation automation in the banking industry.  Ethel was listed in Americas Top 100 women in 1959. She made many lasting friendships through her work.  Ethel was an avid traveler, hunter, and bicyclist. She loved to hike and square dance with the Prairie Club and Prairie Swingers. She met her husband, Robert C. Spencer through friends of these clubs and was married in 1960. They lived together in the house he built on lower Kelly Lake, where they delighted in entertaining their numerous friends and family. Ethel had so many dear friends – whoever she met often became a lifelong friend. Ethel also was devoted to her family. Ethel was committed to her faith, a lifelong Lutheran and active in her church, Hales Corner Lutheran. She joined and helped in the Attic Workshop, an organization through the church that sends medicine, clothing, school supplies and more to poor communities throughout the world. She retired from the attic after 22 years of service.Ethel will be remembered for her loving nature, strong sense of fun and adventure and great enthusiasm for life.  Though having no children of her own, she profoundly influenced her nieces and nephews in their lives. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed.