Leon L. Specht

Leon L. Specht, age 88, of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, formerly of Preston, Iowa, passed away, Thursday, May 15, 2008 at the Family Heritage Care Center, Black River Falls, Wisconsin. A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 19, 2008 in the Salem Lutheran Church, Spragueville, Iowa with Pastor Caroline Engelbrecht officiating. Burial will be in the Spragueville Cemetery, Spragueville, Iowa. Friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the Miller-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Preston, Iowa. A Memorial Fund has been established in his name.

Leon was born on January 1, 1920, in rural Maquoketa, Iowa, the son of William and Mathilda (Westphal) Specht. He married Ruth C. Beck on February 17, 1940 in Davenport, Iowa. Leon attended a rural country school at Cod Fish Hollow.
Leon farmed most of his life in rural Maquoketa. He was employed by Clinton Engines for many years. He worked in the maintenance department at Maquoketa Care Center, Maquoketa, Iowa and at Hixton Housing, Hixton, Wisconsin. Leon was a member of Salem Lutheran Church. Leon enjoyed fishing, softball, playing cards, and dancing. He was a die-hard Chicago Cubs baseball fan and Chicago Bears football fan. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Leon is survived by his two sons, Lowell (Virginia) Specht of Spring Hill, Florida, Noel (DeeDee) Specht of Bonney Lake, Washington; five daughters, Carmin (John) Blake of Maquoketa, Iowa, Joene Michel of Preston, Iowa, Twyla (Kenneth) Dinger of Center Point, Iowa, Lwyla (David) Schneider of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and Noella Soenksen of Muscatine, Iowa; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; one brother, Larry (Karen) Specht of Maquoketa, Iowa; two sisters, Lucille Reindorp of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Madonna (Edwin) Hankemeier of Andrew, Iowa.
Leon is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; grandson, Kevin Michel, sister Eleanor Keeney and son-in-law, Floyd Michel.