Christopher Spencer

Madison - Christopher Shippee Spencer passed away peacefully with his family at his side on December 19th, 2015. Born April 29th, 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts, Chris came to Wisconsin to attend Beloit College. After graduating in 1969 with a degree in Mathematics, he obtained a law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1972. Over the course of his forty-year legal career, Chris worked for the Madison City Attorney's Office (1972-73); the Dane County District Attorney's Office (1973-81); and American Family Insurance (1981-2011), retiring as Chief Legal Officer in 2011. He also served for many years as a member of the Board of Governors of the Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund.

Chris was a generous, loving person, and a devoted husband and father. In addition to his family, he loved fly-fishing, playing the guitar, reading, and the Boston Red Sox--whose 2004 World Series victory repaid a lifetime's worth of frustrations. On any given summer weekend morning, Chris could be found at the trout stream, on the golf course, or in his favorite chair watching sports. Following his retirement, Chris travelled extensively, both to see the world and to visit his sons in Minneapolis and Boston.

He is survived by his loving wife of forty years Alice Whitemarsh Spencer and his sons Ian (Kris), Noel (Emily), and Sean (Apple), and was preceded in death by his parents Paul Jasper and Beatrice Brown Spencer, brother Jeffrey Merrill Spencer, and in-laws Fred and Agnes Whitemarsh.

The Spencer family would like to thank the staff at UW Hospitals and Agrace Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Dane County Humane Society, Maddie's Felines in Treatment (FIT) Center, 5132 Voges Rd., Madison, WI 53718 or https://www.giveshelter.org/special_donation.html.

If you would like to share your memories or photos of Chris with his family, please send them to rememberingchrisspencer@gmail.com.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 15th, 2016 at Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E. Gorham St., Madison, WI 53703, (608) 257-4845. Visiting will occur from 9:30-11:00 am and service held at 11:00 am with luncheon to follow.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434