Vigen Memorial Home obituary - Larry R. Spees, 73, Keokuk

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Larry R. Spees, 73, of Keokuk died Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Keokuk.

He was born June 22, 1945, in Macomb, Ill., to Richard and Thelma (Hall) Spees. The family moved to Keokuk when Larry was six months old.

Larry graduated from Keokuk High School in 1963. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., as a company clerk. He

SPEES

attained the rank of specialist E-5 before he was honorably discharged.

He married Nancy Hon May 28, 1983, at Melrose United Methodist Church in Argyle.

Larry’s career included 21 years as a delivery driver for Pepsi-Cola Memphis Bottling Co. in Keokuk. He then worked for 23 years as an over-the-road truck driver – first for DOT Foods in Mount Sterling, Ill., then for Walmart Transportation in Mount Pleasant. He retired in January.

Larry was a member of Evangelical Free Church of Keokuk. A strong faith in the Lord guided Larry and Nancy throughout their marriage. He loved serving his church family, especially in the kitchen, and had a heart full of care and concern for those around him.

He enjoyed cooking, gardening, working in his yard, having coffee with friends, traveling, mushroom hunting and fishing. He was a history buff who enjoyed reading about a variety of subjects.

Survivors include his wife; mother; son, Joshua Spees (Julia Sapir) of Waynesboro, Va.; daughter, Megan (Jared) McNeill of Urbandale; grandson, Nico Spees of Waynesboro; granddaughter, Willa Spees of Waynesboro; sisters, Trudy (David) Mahannah of Ludington, Mich., and Kathy (Brian) Sorenson of Buffalo Valley, Tenn.; uncle, Donald (Grace) Hall of Keokuk; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father and a son, Jonathan Spees.

A celebration of life service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Evangelical Free Church of Keokuk.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to E-Free’s kitchen renovation project or the Keokuk Public Library Foundation. Larry’s friends are encouraged to share memories and thoughts with the family; condolences can be left at www.vigenmemorialhome.com or mailed to 3005 Decatur St., Keokuk, IA 52632.

Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk is in charge of arrangements.

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