State Fair blue ribbon awarded posthumously to accomplished needlepoint crafter

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A bittersweet award went to an accomplished crafter at the State Fair this week. 

That's because Christine Spresser, the blue-ribbon winner for needlepoint, sadly passed away last May. 

Spresser was a former president of the Elmbrook Rotary Club of Brookfield. She was being treated for ovarian cancer, but her illness didn't stop her from her passion.

"When she was in the hospital on Sunday, prior to her passing, she had asked to make sure that her needlepoint project got into the fair," said Jeanne Allen, friend. "She would've been very happy that all of her hard work had been recognized."

Spresser's friend says she always talked about winning an award when she was about 12, so she would've been thrilled by this blue ribbon.

Spresser worked on needlepoint her whole life, even getting up at 4:30 in the morning to work her craft.