Idaho Woodcarvers Guild
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Featured Carver
Walter Mifflin - In Memoriam (1922-2011)
Walt was born on February 22, 1922, near Poplar Bluff, MO, the fifth of six children to John and Amanda Ellen Spencer Mifflin. While attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, he entered the army in 1943, serving in the Signal Corps with the Advanced Section Communication Zone in the European Theater of Operation, earning five battle stars and a written commendation for his service across France and Germany. He married Mae Miller while home on leave in 1944. They had one son. After his discharge from the service in November 1945, he re-enrolled in SIU, graduating in 1947. He then began teaching shop at Glen Ellyn Jr. High school in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. In 1953, he received his Masters degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. While attending Penn State, working on his PhD, he was appointed principal of Forest Glen Elementary School in Glen Ellyn. He remained in that position for 25 years, until he retired in December of 1981. Walt's wife, Mae, died in 1990, and he married Betty Jean Bischoff in June, 1991, in Boise, Idaho. Mae's brother, Clayton, was married to Betty, so Walt and Betty were brother and sister-in-law. Betty's second husband also died in 1990, so Walt and Betty started writing to each other, resulting in Walt coming to Boise in April, 1991, and they were married in June of 1991. Walt and Betty enjoyed traveling to carving shows and competitions around the country, and eventually Walt sold his house in Glen Ellyn, and moved permanently to Boise in 2008.
When Walt retired in 1981, he was given a book on wood carving for Christmas. He got so involved in carving and loved it so much, he even gave up fishing! He became a very accomplished carver of wooden duck decoys and won many blue ribbons throughout the Midwest and Northwest at competitions. His decoys, purchased by collectors, grace collections from Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California. He was a member of the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild in Boise for over 20 years, and participated in and assisted with the annual competition and show held in Boise each March, until 2005. In 1999, he was honored with membership in the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild Hall of Fame "for his extraordinary commitment and dedication to the art and advancement of woodcarving".
Below are some of Walt's work, shown here to honor and show the talent of such a great carver and a great man. He will be missed by all. We are lucky to have known him and include him as a mentor, colleague and friend.
Shoveler Hen By Walt Mifflin
Walt Mifflin
Walt's display (IAW) 
Walt's display 
Walt's display 
Miniature Kestrel 
Thanks, Walt!!!!
Walt was born on February 22, 1922, near Poplar Bluff, MO, the fifth of six children to John and Amanda Ellen Spencer Mifflin. While attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, he entered the army in 1943, serving in the Signal Corps with the Advanced Section Communication Zone in the European Theater of Operation, earning five battle stars and a written commendation for his service across France and Germany. He married Mae Miller while home on leave in 1944. They had one son. After his discharge from the service in November 1945, he re-enrolled in SIU, graduating in 1947. He then began teaching shop at Glen Ellyn Jr. High school in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. In 1953, he received his Masters degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. While attending Penn State, working on his PhD, he was appointed principal of Forest Glen Elementary School in Glen Ellyn. He remained in that position for 25 years, until he retired in December of 1981. Walt's wife, Mae, died in 1990, and he married Betty Jean Bischoff in June, 1991, in Boise, Idaho. Mae's brother, Clayton, was married to Betty, so Walt and Betty were brother and sister-in-law. Betty's second husband also died in 1990, so Walt and Betty started writing to each other, resulting in Walt coming to Boise in April, 1991, and they were married in June of 1991. Walt and Betty enjoyed traveling to carving shows and competitions around the country, and eventually Walt sold his house in Glen Ellyn, and moved permanently to Boise in 2008.
When Walt retired in 1981, he was given a book on wood carving for Christmas. He got so involved in carving and loved it so much, he even gave up fishing! He became a very accomplished carver of wooden duck decoys and won many blue ribbons throughout the Midwest and Northwest at competitions. His decoys, purchased by collectors, grace collections from Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California. He was a member of the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild in Boise for over 20 years, and participated in and assisted with the annual competition and show held in Boise each March, until 2005. In 1999, he was honored with membership in the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild Hall of Fame "for his extraordinary commitment and dedication to the art and advancement of woodcarving".
Below are some of Walt's work, shown here to honor and show the talent of such a great carver and a great man. He will be missed by all. We are lucky to have known him and include him as a mentor, colleague and friend.
Shoveler Hen By Walt Mifflin
Walt Mifflin
Walt's display (IAW) Walt's display Walt's display Miniature Kestrel Thanks, Walt!!!!