Spreemans surprised by new barn quilt

Ken and Linda Spreeman have sponsored Shawano County’s 388th barn quilt, which now adorns their barn at N5027 Oakcrest Drive, east of Shawano. The name of the quilt pattern is “Diamond Cross.”

Neither of the Spreemans were home when the quilt was mounted on their barn. When Ken saw it for the first time, he said, “It’s the prettiest one I’ve seen yet.”

“We just love the vibrant colors and how much it stands out on our barn,” Linda added.

The farm was established in 1850. In 1874, a warranty deed was issued by Michael and Caroline Friend to Carl Marquardt. Later, Julius Marquardt took over until he sold it to Arthur and Tomah Backhaus in 1920. They owned it until they sold it to Leo and Hilda Uelmen in 1943, who then sold it to David and Gladys Uelmen in 1962.

Ken Spreeman grew up on a farm just north of where he and Linda now live. So when they were able to purchase the farm in 1994, they were especially excited since it adjoined Ken’s home farm. On the home farm, they had a herd of about 60 Holstein milk cows, which they sold about seven years ago.

After Ken and Linda moved to their farm in 1994, they raised the heifers for the home farm. Now, their daughter Erica, her husband, Jason Eggert, and their three children raise several steers, some chickens and goats. Most of the cropland is rented out.

Ken and Linda love the fact that their daughter and her family live next door.

“They help a lot with upkeep on the farm and also have a garden,” Linda said.

Erica is a nurse in the surgery department at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, and Jason teaches technology education at Shawano Community High School.

Along with their daughter, Ken and Linda also have a son, Jaken, and another daughter, Holly. Jaken also helps on the farm whenever he is needed.

Thinking about their farm upbringing and the experiences their grandchildren are getting, Linda said, “The old family farms/barns are absolute. We want to preserve our heritage of farming and are very proud to be able to do that.”

Ken and Linda’s barn quilt is the second one on a Spreeman barn on Oakcrest Drive. The first one is on Ken’s home farm at N5133 Oakcrest Drive, which was put up in October 2011.

The Spreemans’ barn quilt was painted by the Shawano County barn quilt committee and was put up by LeRoy and Keenan Raddant, who work for Raddant Electric in Shawano.

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