Nadine Springer

She was born in Springfield, October 13, 1926 the only child of Sadie and Herbert Baines.

Sadie, her mother, came to Springfield to stay with her sister and have her baby in Springfield. Nadine grew up in southern Illinois in the coal mining towns. When she was 11 years old, she moved to Springfield. She went to church with her father as a child and met many lifelong friends there. She showed her 1937 diary to her daughter once, where it said, and “I met Duey Springer today, that’s for me” They married in 1947 and were married almost 50 years.

Upon graduation from high school, she worked for a time and then stayed home to raise three children, until David was in the 3rd grade. She worked at several departments and locations of the State of Illinois in administrative positions, retiring in 1991, the same day as Duey.

When childhood friends came to our house for dinner, they all knew they must try the “three-bites” of whatever was served that was new to them.

Nadine was a Girl Scout Leader for her daughter’s group of grade-school friends. They started with 3 best friends and three mothers as leaders. Many happy years of scouting activities, crafts, service projects and overnights at Girl Scout Camp, just tell her to be there an hour before.

She was always a spiritual leader at Church, whether a Sunday school teacher, or sometimes, gave the sermon when the minister was not present. Her Church was the center of her social life as a youngster, going with her friends to activities at Church or homes of church friends. As an adult, she was a camp counselor and counseled youth about their faith, choices in life and to never let go of the dreams that youth have.

She was a Sunday school teacher for children, youth and adults at different times in her life, and a summer Bible School teacher and longtime member of the church choir. She and Duey each had a “Grandfriend” at Trinity, youngsters that were dear to them. Nadine loved to tell the story of how one young boy who came to Bible School with his neighbors who regularly attended, of how he always laughed when we were learning the 23rd Psalm. He told her, “He leads be in the paths of radishes”.

Nadine and Duey traveled all over the U.S., Canada, and once to Mexico. She also went many places with her girlfriends. She walked where Jesus walked, went to the Passion play in Oberammergau, Germany, saw the Pyramids, rode a camel, cruised the Panama Canal, and rode the Orient Express, all after they retired.

Mother has reminded us that the actress Bette David said, “Getting old ain’t for sissies”. In later years, as her short-term memory failed, she still had the determined attitude that she would do all things HER way, and not any other way.

She and Duey loved their children, David, Richard, and Sallie, and their grandsons, Brandon, John and Richard’s goddaughter Little Kathleen. She will be remembered always by many. We will all be greeted by her in heaven.

Whenever you wear your bluest clothing, think of Nadine

She is survived by her daughter, Sallie (husband Daniel) Flynn, Son David (wife Cindy) Springer, grandsons John Flynn and Brandon (wife Lauren) Springer, and great grandsons, Lucas, Benton and Blake Springer.

A private graveside service will be held in Roselawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may direct memorial contributions to the Kumler Neighborhood Ministries.

Arrangements are in the care of Bisch and Son Funeral Home. 217-544-5424