Richard Speros

Richard Speros

February 14, 2026

Richard "Moose" Speros, age 89, a long time resident of Couderay, died on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Waters Edge Assisted Living surrounded by his family.

Richard Lee Speros was born on October 16, 1936, in Oil City, Pennsylvania, to parents Louie and Leona (Regal) Speros. Moose graduated from high school in Oil City at the age of 16, where he excelled in academics and sports. At the age of 17, his mother signed for him to enlist in the US Navy where he served in and was part of the Kiddie Cruise, a course of service for those that enlist prior to their 18th birthday. On June 11, 1955, Moose was joined in marriage to Mildred O'Camb in Erie, Pennsylvania. Moose was serving in the U.S. Navy and so Millie became a military wife. While in Norfolk, VA Millie and Moose were blessed with the first of their three children. After the Navy, he enrolled and graduated from Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, and then joined the Air Force where Millie and Moose moved to 15 different states. Moose left on December 26, 1968, and spent 10 months in Vietnam while Millie was home alone raising the children. Moose flew 232 combat missions while serving in Vietnam and returned home in time for Thanksgiving 1969 and was then stationed in New Mexico and Texas. In 1963 they took a vacation to Tiger Musky Resort in Couderay, Wisconsin and in 1975, after another vacation at Tiger Musky, Moose announced to Millie we bought a resort and she replied, "When do we start?" As Moose was still in the service, Millie was the primary force behind running the resort until he was discharged as a Major from the US Air Force in 1978. Moose then took an appointment under Gov Thompson to serve in the Division of Tourism, and he would become the first Secretary of Tourism serving under Governors Thompson and McCallam. After serving 12 years, Moose returned full time to the Resort where he became the "Teller of Jobs" for the remainder of his years at the resort. In 2023, shortly after Millie's passing, he moved to Hayward. Moose was a past President of the Hayward Lakes Resort Association, Board Member of the Heritage, later Johnson, Bank, and will be remembered as a great story and joke teller.

Moose is survived by his children: Penny (Gary) Bender, Jason (Mary) Speros, Jeff (Kim) Speros, grandchildren: Sara, Joshua, Jordan, Ashley, Brandon, Chelsea, Derek, and 12 great grandchildren.

Moose is preceded in death by his wife Millie in 2021.

A celebration of life gathering will be held for Moose starting at noon, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Tiger Musky Resort.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to Tamarack Health with Moose's name in the memo in his memory.

Online memories and/or condolences may be left at www.bratley-nelsonchapels.com