Obit: Speich, Katherine E. (1923 - 2013)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Speich, Perman, Ozbolt, Haley, Berchem, Martens, Hoffman, Seigel, Meisner

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 28 May 2013

Speich, Katherine E. (6 OCT 1923 - 24 MAY 2013)

Katherine E. "Kay" Speich, 89, of Greenwood, died at Stoney River Assisted Living, in Marshfield, on Friday, May 24, 2013. Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Greenwood. Fathers Joseph Follmar and Eric Burns will officiate and burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joe Maass, Allen Steffen, Gregory Tomac, Jerry Speich, Nick Kitzhaber and John Meisner. Visitation will be held at the church, on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a 6:30 p.m. American Legion Auxiliary service and an 6:45 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will also be held on Wednesday, at the church, from 11 a.m. until time of service.

Katherine Elizabeth Perman was born on October 6, 1923, in Greenwood, WI, the daughter of Daniel and Julia (Ozbolt) Perman. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Greenwood, and attended Greenwood area schools, graduating from Greenwood High School in 1941. Kay worked in Chicago from 1941 to 1943, and then entered St. Luke's School of Nursing in Chicago, graduating in February 1946. On April 3, 1948, she married the love of her life, John D. Speich, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Greenwood. The family farm, north of Greenwood, was their life with their children for over 50 years. Kay worked as a registered nurse, first at Memorial Hospital in Neillsville, for over 20 years, and then at the Clark County Health Care Center for over 20 years. Kay and her husband later sold the family farm to their son, Bill, which he continues to work and run today.

Kay loved to bake and cook. She was in the kitchen for countless hours making more food than all of her family could eat in one sitting. She loved to travel to the casinos in the area and also had fun visiting her family across the states. Kay and John D. loved the Greenwood High School sports teams and they had their own reserved seats for the games.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a member and past president of St. Ann's Society; a member and past president of the Greenwood American Legion Auxiliary for 62 years; and was a leader of the Greenwood Satellites 4-H Club.

Kay is survived by five children, Marian Haley of Avondale, AZ; Bill Speich of Greenwood; Michael (Patti) Speich of Wisconsin Rapids; Margaret Speich (husband Steven Berchem) of Bethesda, MD; Diane (Mike) Martens of Orangevale, CA; one daughter-in-law, Starla Speich of Vacaville, CA; seven grandchildren, Brehon (Keith) Hoffman of Wisconsin Rapids; Emmy Speich of Milwaukee; Sean (Lauren) Haley of Tempe, AZ; Mara (Justin) Seigel of Surprise, AZ; Emily Berchem of Bethesda, MD; Sage Speich and Brooke Speich of Vacaville, CA; three great-grandchildren, Kaylynn Hoffman, Tarren Hoffman and Sutton Seigel; one sister, Margaret (Herb) Meisner of New Berlin, WI; one sister-in-law, Virginia Perman of St. Paul, MN; one brother-in-law, Robert Speich, of WI; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John D. Speich on November 15, 2010; one son, Thomas Speich, on October 28, 2010; four sisters, Mary Maass, Dede Nerbun, Christine Hemersbach, Ann Steffen; and two brothers, Vic Perman and Joe Tomac.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, of Greenwood, is assisting the family with arrangements.

A memorial donation in honor of Kay will be made by the family at a later date.