TOLEDO-Willard K. Speas, age 66, a resident of Country Living Care Center, Toledo, died Friday, March 30, 2007 in Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames due to a lengthy illness. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 11:00 AM at Clemons Church of Christ in Clemons. Interment will follow at Clemons Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 4, 2007 from 5-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama and Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Willard K. Speas was born January 23, 1941, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Goldie (Clark) Speas. He lived on a farm near Gilman during his school years, where he helped with farming and milking cows. The family moved to a home in Tama County before he became a resident in Tama Co. Home, later called Country Living Care Center. Willard lived at the facility for forty-five years.
He helped numerous farmers in Tama County and on February 7, 1983 he began working at Mid Iowa Workshop in Marshalltown as an assembler. He retired in October 2006. His health started to deteriorate and he was diagnosed with cancer.
Willard enjoyed gardening and was involved in various other activities at the Country Living Care Center.
Preceding him in death were his parents; one brother, Larry Speas; and a baby sister, Arlene Maurie Speas.
Survivors include five brothers, Wayne (Jackie) Speas of Norfolk, VA, Merrill (Lois) Speas of Newton, Jerrold Speas of Shanghai, China, Kenneth (Helen) Speas of Ames, and Keith Speas of Bertha, MN; four sisters, Ivagene Beckett of Clarion, Marie Ellingson of Cedar Rapids, Ruby Blankenship of Brooklyn, and Joyce Hartz of Des Moines; along with many nieces and nephews.
A memorial fund has been established.