Justine Kerfoot

Born Justine Spunner in Barrington, Illinois to George W and Mae (Lane) Spunner in 1906,[1] she spent her early years in the Chicago area.[2][3][4] She attended Northwestern University circa 1928. Her father was a successful attorney, their home was in Barrington, IL, in the Chicago area. Spunner majored in zoology, minored in philosophy and chemistry, played soccer and volleyball, and joined the Outing Club at Northwestern. She planned to go to medical school and become a doctor. She graduated with a degree in zoology and finished one year of graduate study before moving to Gunflint Lake in 1928.

Her mother bought the Gunflint Lodge in 1927.[5] During the Great Depression her family lost almost everything except for the lodge.[6] They moved to the lodge which had no plumbing or electricity.[6] Justine learned how to put the plumbing it herself. She also learned how to mush sled dogs, repair cars, fix telephone lines, build furniture, [6] and fur trapping.[2]

She married Bill Kerfoot in 1934. They had 3 children; Neal (1935-1935), Bruce, Pat and Sharon [4]. She once led a winter hunting trip while 8 months pregnant. They eventually divorced. The lodge burned in 1953 and the family rebuilt. Their son Bruce bought the lodge from his parents. He ran it until he sold in it 2016.[7][8]

It took 5 years for the Chippewa Indians, who taught her wilderness skills, to trust her.[5][9]

She played an important role in the shaping of the Gunflint Trail.[10]

She served as Cook County Commissioner from 1965 to 1968, serving as Chair in 1968.[11] She was unhappy about the extension of the Gunflint Trail to Saganaga Lake via a toll road on private property.[12]

She portaged her own canoe until she was 90 years old.[6] Her canoe is on display at the Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center center [13] She died on May 30, 2001, at age 94 having visited the Amazon and Antarctica.[2][8]