Obit: Speich, Gary C. (1933 - 2011)

Contact:Jack & June Wittwer

 Email: JRWITTWER@aol.com

Surnames: Speich, Norris, Derby, Kittelson, Vollrath

----Source: Jack & June Wittwer Scrapbook

Speich, Gary C. (8 SEP 1933 - 30 OCT 2011)

Gary C. Speich, 78, of rural Augusta passed away Sunday evening, Oct. 30, 2011, at Augusta Area Nursing Home, where he had been a resident for two months.

Gary Charles Speich, son of Jacob and Ida (Vollrath) Speich was born Sept. 8, 1933, in Greenwood. He graduated from Greenwood High School in 1951, and in 1956 he graduated from the School of Pharmacy at UW-Madison. Upon graduation he worked briefly in Whitehall, before taking a pharmacist position at O.C. Nessa Drug Store in Osseo. He eventually purchased the drug store in 1960, which he operated until his retirement in 1993. He was also responsible for the medicine dispensary at Osseo Hospital and Nursing Home. Gary was united in marriage to Edith Norris on Feb. 14, 1960, at the Congregation Church in Osseo. The couple lived in Osseo until moving to Lake Eau Claire, rural Augusta in 1991. While in Osseo, Gary was an active member of the Congregational and United Church of Christ, the Osseo Rod and Gun Club, partner with the Bali-Wik Supper Club and served on the building committee of the Osseo Area Hospital and Nursing Home. For many years he played the tenor saxophone in several bands that consisted of Wally Shong, Brad and Dick Garber, Len Ida, Marion Peplau, Dan Kaufman and Dick Hanson. He had also been a member of the Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club, the Augusta Sportsmen, Eau Claire Rod and Gun Club and Ducks Unlimited. While working he had been a member of the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association and the National Association of Retail Druggist. After moving to Augusta, he transferred his membership to the United Methodist Church where he sang with the church choir, helped wherever needed in church projects and also sang with the local Red Ties. In his spare time he enjoyed his coffee time in Osseo and making wood crafts with his compound saws.

Gary was a kind and caring man who will be deeply missed by his wife, Edith of rural Augusta; sons, Jacob and Diane Speich of McFarland; daughter, Caroline and Charles Derby of Isanti, MN; two grandchildren, Megan and Trevor Speich of McFarland; sisters and brother-in-law, Darlene Speich of Rockford, IL, Helen and Howard Kittelson of Osseo; and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Ida; and siblings, Violet, Don and Elmer Speich.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Augusta, with Pastor Doris Simpson officiating.

A visitation will be held Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the United Methodist Church of Augusta.