Donald Lee "Don" Speck

1927 - 2018

Donald "Don" Lee Speck

Donald "Don" Lee Speck, age 91, passed away Tuesday, November 13, 2018 quietly in his home at Walnut Hill Farm, surrounded by his loving family and many dogs. Don was born in Toledo at Flower Hospital on February 1, 1927 to the late Claire Hiskett Speck and Lucile Doris Shoemaker - Speck. He was a 1945 graduate of Perrysburg High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University in 1949 where he was very active in the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and was a spirited varsity cheerleader.

Don was always musically inclined beginning in the 6th grade, through his years in the Perrysburg High School Band and continuing through college in the BGSU marching band. In high school, he formed his own orchestra. With Don on the clarinet, the "Don Speck's Orchestra" played at dances and events around northwest Ohio. One of his lifelong hobbies was collecting LP records and CDs of big band and jazz music.

Don began his career in 1949 at The State Bank of Toledo, which was organized in 1944 by his father Claire H. Speck. He advanced in the bank through its merger into the Lucas County State Bank.



Don's banking career continued for twenty-five years as the Vice President of Pension Trust Administration with the Ohio Citizens Trust Company and its merger with the National City Bank of Cleveland. When he retired in 1993, his career had covered 45 years in the banking industry in Toledo.

Not content to leave banking behind, Don spent his retirement years collecting antique banks and other memorabilia related to local banking. He also devoted many years to tracing and recording the Speck and his wife's Streicher family genealogy.

He was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church where he married Suzanne Margaret Streicher in 1951. He served in all the church officer positions and in 1976 established a Permanent Endowment Fund for the Church which at the time of his death had grown to some seven figures.

Don and his beloved wife, enjoyed 67 years of marriage. He is survived by Sue and their three children Peggy Suzanne (Ben) Brown of Maumee, OH, William Donald Speck of New York, NY, and James Andrew (Beth Wilson) Speck of Ayer, MA and cherished grandchildren, Claire Marie Speck, Rome, Italy, and Benjamin James Speck, a graduating senior at Purdue University.

Don was a member of the President's Club at BGSU and Hillsdale Colleges and formerly served as a Trustee of the YMCA of Southwest Toledo where he was a member of their Century Club. He served many years as Treasurer and Trustee of the Board of the Lutheran Orphans and Old Folks Home Society of Northwest Ohio. In later years, he received honors at BGSU as a member of the Dean's Council, Golden Flashes, and Carillon Society as well as being honored as an Accomplished Graduate. He was also a member of the President's Council at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Don and Sue enjoyed golf and were members of Highland Meadows and Brandywine Country Clubs. A true gentleman farmer, he enjoyed splitting wood, building fences, working in his vegetable garden and raising red raspberries which he shared with his friends, neighbors and nearby deer. Don was often found riding his John Deere tractor and participated along with his entire family at the Lucas County Fair and Haflinger Horse events where he competed successfully in driving events with favorite pony, Chaos.

Don was preceded in death by his father and mother, infant sister Marilyn Ann Speck, and brothers John David Speck and Thomas Hugh Speck. He is survived by his remaining brother William Allen (Bettie) Speck of Fairhope, Alabama. He is also survived by special friends Janet Kowalski and Amanda Keller and special caregiver Lori Steinhoff. He was a longtime owner of Norfolk Terriers; Cleo was his favorite. He is survived by his two terriers, Chloe and Toby.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 15th from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St, Maumee. Visitation will resume on Friday, November 16, 2018 at Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor Road, Toledo; after 10:00 A.M. where Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be private at the Pemberville Cemetery, Pemberville, Ohio where his grandfather, George H. Speck, published the Pemberville Leader for over 50 years beginning in 1889.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Permanent Endowment Fund at Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor Road, Toledo, Ohio 43606 or to the Toledo Area Humane Society, 827 Illinois Avenue, Maumee, Ohio 43537. Online Condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com