Donald Keith Speck, 86, of Tekamah NE

DONALD KEITH SPECK, 86 years, of Tekamah, Nebraska

Donald K. Speck, 86, of Tekamah, Nebraska, passed from this earthly life on September 29, 2014 at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, Nebraska. Don was born February 3, 1928, in Burt County, Nebraska, to Gordon and Florence (Scherner) Speck. Other than two years serving his country in the Korean Conflict, he lived his entire life in Tekamah. Upon graduation from Tekamah High School, Don attended telegraph operator school in Omaha, where he discovered an office environment didn’t suit him. Preferring open spaces, Don worked for several different enterprises in Tekamah over the years, all with ties to agriculture and the outdoors.

Following his stint in the Army, he returned to Tekamah in 1951, where a young woman working in a local restaurant caught his fancy. Don and Jean J. Rapp were united in marriage April 18, 1954. They were blessed with three children, Leta, Judy, and Leon.

Don was loyal to his family and his country. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Don was known for his quick wit and sense of humor, which he readily shared with anyone. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Leon Speck; parents, Gordon and Florence Speck; brothers, Kenneth Speck of Omaha, Emmett Speck of Tekamah; sisters, Inez Chase of Tekamah, Phyllis Gammel of Murdock.

Don is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean Speck of Tekamah; daughters and sons-in-law, Leta and Helmut Liesch of Kimball, NE, Judy and Clark Meyer of Allen, TX; daughter-in-law, Vicki Speck of Eldora, IA; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Smith of Sioux Falls, SD,  Debbie Speck of Tekamah; grandchildren, Benjamin Speck of Eldora, Lora and Bryce Kubli of Melbourne, IA, Terri Meyer and Jim Spallin of Allen, TX, Robert Meyer and Jessica Eagleboy of Colorado Springs, CO; great-grandchildren, Kathryn Kubli, Shaelie Spallin, Marlena Meyer, Robert Meyer, Elsa Meyer; many nieces and nephews.

MEMORIAL GATHERING: October 10, 2014, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah

PRIVATE FAMILY BURIAL: October 11, 2014, in the Tekamah Cemetery

MEMORIALS: To the family to be designated at a later date.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

Donald Speck