The Legacy of Dean Michael Spaner

Dean Michael Spaner, son of Bernard and Eira Spaner, the Spaner family that lived and taught in Thorsby, is recognized for his work around the globe in agriculture. This highly educated man built the University of Alberta wheat breeding program and, over the next two decades, built it into a major contributor to Canadian Agriculture. His program developed over 15 new varieties of wheat, including an early-maturing, disease-resistant variety known as Thorsby, named for the Alberta town where is parents met, and now grown on farms throughout Northern Alberta.
Thorsby Wheat, formally named Triticum aestivum, is an early maturing variety with unique rust protection and consistent yield across the Prairies. It matures early without sacrificing yield potential, it has a broad geographic fit and has an excellent rust resistance with novel sources of protection.

“In the good old days of the late 40’s and early 50’s, one of my teachers in high school was a Bernard Spaner. A young lady who also came to teach was an Eira Jones. The two met and became a couple and married after they left Thorsby. 50 years later in the year 2000, we had our 50th year class reunion and also published a history book to which the Spaner’s contributed. This amazing couple raised 5 children, so the family consisted of two teachers, four doctors, and one nurse. We would have to look long and hard to find an equal to this phenomenal family.

Sadly, on April 9th, 2026, one of their sons, Dean Spaner, passed away at the young age of 66. However, had he not passed away, we would not have known about this extremely intelligent person and his accomplishments. Dean spent many years trotting the world helping the poor countries to a better life with his expertise in agriculture. He and his enthusiastic team development 15 varieties of wheat, including an early maturing, disease resistant wheat known as Thorsby, named after our town where his parents met.

We should be proud that something so special has our name attached to it and that Dean thought that Thorsby was so important to his life to name it so.”
-Phyllis Madiuk, resident of Thorsby and Historian.