Sunset theme decorates newest barn quilt

The nation’s largest trail of barn quilts in Shawano County continues to grow with the addition of number 367.

The quilt, called Sunset Memories, is on a barn owned by John and Vicki Spiegelberg at N3525 Lone Maple Road, Tigerton. The quilt was put on display June 21, which was especially meaningful, since it was John and Vicki’s 41st wedding anniversary.

“The quilt pattern represents our interests, including our love of trees, lumber, hunting and farming with antique tractors,” Vicki said.

John and Vicki, who live in Hortonville, purchased the 80-acre parcel of land in 2004, using the land for cropping and the barn for storage. The barn, built in the early 1900s, was in poor condition, but John and Vicki fixed it up well enough to have several barn dances there for family and friends. As time allows, they continue to make improvements in the barn, including adding metal siding and repairing some of the inside.

At their home in Hortonville, they raise some beef steers and chickens. John also has a collection of about 30 antique tractors that he has restored. He also built a saw mill and Vicki enjoys woodworking and making crafts.

John and Vicki have three sons. Clayton, Cole and Charlie, who with his wife, Lindsey, has two boys. They also have a daughter, Karen, who is married to Ben Cate, and they have two daughters.

Vicki and John said they have thought about getting a barn quilt for quite some time and are thankful to Jim and Irene Leuenberger for making it happen.

“It really is amazing what they have done to make the old barns in Shawano County look beautiful again,” Vicki said.

The Spiegelberg barn quilt was painted by the Shawano County barn quilt committee and was put up by LeRoy Raddant and his grandson, Keenan, who both work at Raddant Electric in Shawano.