Eileen Faye Fornshell Spilman
Eileen (Fornshell) Spilman, 80, of Pillager, passed away on August 10, 2025, at Lakewood Care Center in Staples.
Eileen was born April 7, 1945, in Brainerd, MN, to Curtis and Jeanette (Ackerson) Fornshell and grew up in Pillager, graduating from Pillager High School in 1963.
She went to work in St. Cloud at Fingerhut and later at JC Penney’s until she married the love of her life, Douglas Spilman, on November 25, 1967, in Pillager. They lived in Minneapolis, where she worked at Prudential Life Insurance until they bought two 4-plexes and a duplex, which kept her busy while Doug worked at a machine shop. Their first child, Chad Douglas, was born on September 4, 1971, and three years later, their second son, Kevin Curtis, was born on October 17, 1974. They moved to Champlin, MN, for two years before returning to Pillager in 1978 to a hobby farm, where they remained.
On November 10, 1979, Chad and Kevin died in a semi/car crash in which Eileen was injured. Her faith in God and strength carried her through as she endured the pain. She worked for Avon Corporation for three years before deciding to have another child. Son Kelly James was born on December 20, 1982, their Christmas baby.
Doug and Eileen opened and operated Spilman Sawmill in Pillager from 1980 to the present, sawing and planning lumber for family and clients.
In 2020, she held three rummage sales to benefit Pillager businesses, churches, schools, coats and meals for kids, the Pillager Family Center with Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, and provided aid for medical hardships due to COVID-19.
Eileen was a member of the Brainerd Senior Center for 50 years and the Brainerd Eagles Club for 16 years. She became a member of Pillager First Lutheran Church in 1978, and one highlight of her membership was overseeing the building’s new addition in 2002. She was also in the choir, Labors of Love (helping many families with funeral lunches), on the church’s board for six years, Sunday School for many years, Ladies Aid, and worked on the church’s newsletter. She loved playing bingo, reading Inspired Books of Love and Suspense, watching "Days of Our Lives" for 57 years, enjoying the family camper on the Crow Wing River, and spending time with her family and close friends. In 1993, she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and over the years endured three back surgeries, shoulder, knee and hip replacements, and glaucoma. This last year she broke her hip and femur which she never recovered.
Surviving are her loving family: husband Doug of 57 years; son Kelly (Kris Olson); grandson Brandon Olson; sisters Wanda (Gary) Beimert of Pillager, Penny (Brian) Stumvoll of Nisswa; nephews Larry (Lisa) and Brent (Tasha Cestnik) Beimert of Pillager; godsons Rori (Katie) Stumvoll of Nisswa, and Aron (Samantha) Stumvoll of Lima, Peru; and extended family, including many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her sons Chad and Kevin, her parents Curtis and Jeanette Fornshell, her father- and mother-in-law Ben and Mable Spilman, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, best friend Alice Nyberg, and many other family members.
Pallbearers: Larry Beimert, Brent Beimert, Rori Stumvoll, Aron Stumvoll, Lee & Chase Winterowd.
Honorary Ladies: Wanda Beimert, Penny Stumvoll, Shirley Hines, Joanie Pearson, Mandy Winterowd, Lyn Carner and Penny Autey.
Visitation will be at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter
Funeral Services will be held at Motley Methodist Free Church on Saturday August 16, 2025 at 4:00pm with Pastor Jim Johnson officiating. There will be a visitation held on Friday August 15, 2025 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN, and also one hour prior to the start of the service at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at the Wildwood Cemetery in Pillager following lunch.
Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.
