Thomas C. Speich

Thomas C. Speich, 50, of Vacaville, Calif., formerly of Greenwood, Wis., died at St. Joseph's Hospital & Health Center, in Dickinson, N.D., from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

A funeral will be held today at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwood. The Rev. Joseph Follmar will officiate and burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Greenwood American Legion Post No. 238.

Pallbearers will be Nick Kitzhaber, Ron Sowieja, Jerry Vesel, Eugene Steffen, John Meisner and Dean Suda. Honorary pallbearers will be Dale Petkovsek and Sean Haley. Visitation was held at Cuddie Funeral Home in Greenwood, on Tuesday with a prayer service. Visitation will also be held at the church today from 10 a.m. until time of service.

Thomas Charles Speich was born on May 5, 1960, in Neillsville, Wis., the son of John D. and Kay (Perman) Speich. He was raised and received his education in Greenwood, graduating from Greenwood High School in 1978. After high school, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, near San Antonio. He was then stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash., where he remained until his honorable discharge in 1982.

Tom then moved to Texas and worked as a carpenter with his friend Dean Suda. In 1990, he moved to Vacaville, Calif., to work as a carpenter for Roy Gregorich Jr.

He was united in marriage to Starla Meyers on Nov. 25, 1994, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Dixon, Calif. Tom lived and worked in Vacaville until the time of his death.

He had many interests, but especially loved spending time with his daughters and wife, camping, sports, coaching soccer, a love for his dogs, power naps and reading the newspaper.

Tom will be dearly missed by his wife, Starla, of Vacaville, Calif.; his daughters, Sage and Brooke Speich, both at home; his parents, John D. and Kay Speich of Greenwood; five siblings, Marian Haley of Avondale, Ariz., Bill Speich of Greenwood, Michael (Patti) Speich of Wisconsin Rapids; Margaret Speich (husband Steven Berchen) of Bethesda, Md., and Diane (Mike) Martens of Orangevale, Calif.; four nieces, Mara (Justin) Seigel, Emily Berchen, Brehon (Keith) Hoffman and Emmy Speich; one nephew, Sean Haley; one great-niece, Kaylynn Hoffman; one great-nephew, Tarren Hoffman; one aunt, Margaret (Herb) Meissner of New Berlin; and numerous cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Tom Speich Memorial Trust.

Arrangements are by Cuddie Funeral Home in Greenwood, (715) 267-6385.