Donald Speer

Donald Lee Speer, 78, of Atchison KS died Tuesday, October 4th, 2016 at Mosaic Life Center, St. Joseph, MO following his wish for a family trip to see Mount Rushmore. Funeral services will be 11:00 am on Friday, October 7th, 2016 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, with Rev. Robert Ziegler officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memory Gardens, Atchison, KS. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, October 6th, 2016 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church or for Alcoholics’ Anonymous and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com. Don was born on August 28, 1938 in Kansas City, KS the son of Virgil & Velma (Wilson) Speer. He graduated from Wyndotte High School in 1956. Mr. Speer was a U.S. Army veteran. He had worked as a welder for T.W. A. in Kansas City from 1966 to 1999. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served as an usher, and presently was an Elder of the church. He attended Pastor’s Adult Bible Class, and many TEAM classes. Don was a Union leader in the AAW, former member of the Jaycee’s, member of the VFW Post # 1175, Atchison, Pineview Golf Course and was an AA Mentor. Don enjoyed running marathons, pitching horse shoes, playing golf, hunting, fishing, playing and coaching softball, and bowling. He also enjoyed creating metal pieces of art, and many friends and family have spark plug airplanes that he made and gave away. He especially enjoyed his family and grandchildren. Don was married three times, his first wife was Marvella Sullivan, they were married in June of 1957 and later divorced. His second wife was Kathleen Lowder, they were married in 1970 and later divorced. He was married to Rosalie Denton on July 24, 1995. She preceded him in death on August 25, 2015. Survivors include five daughters, Tina (Mike) Fraser, Gardner, KS, Sherry Osborne, Kansas City, KS, Robyn (Jeff) Klawuhn, Rushville, MO, Jenny (David) Funk, Nortonville, KS and Laura (Ryan) Portenier, Atchison, KS., four step sons; Daniel Huffman, Osawatomie, KS., Michael(Tina) Denton, Atchison KS, Duane Denton, Atchison, and Shane (Laura) Denton, Kansas City, MO, Sixteen grandchildren, Six step-grandchildren, Eighteen great grandchildren, and three step great grandchildren. His parents, wife Rosalie, step son Tom Huffman, and sister, Bonnie Labouff, preceded him in death.