HUISMAN, Lester 1918-1982

HUISMAN, LAMB, BUSH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/25/2017 at 14:36:45

1,400 Attend Joint Services For Lester, Michael Huisman

Joint funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, November 7, 1982 for Lester "Speck" Huisman and his son, Michael John Huisman, at 2:00 p.m. at the Wellsburg Community School Gymnasium. Approximately 1400 persons were in attendance at the service.

Pastor C. Langhans officiated at the services. Mrs. Norman Harms played selected numbers for the prelude and postlude. The Wellsburg High School Singers, with Kent Heikens as soloist, sang numerous songs. Erika Herter also sang a solo. Accompanist for the numbers was Sheila Maifield.

Flower ladies for Lester Huisman were Mrs. Harley Freese and Mrs. Janet Gelder. Pallbearers were Ralph Huisman, Toby Huisman, Gene Huisman, Robert Huisman, Eldon Huisman and Mayo Huisman.

Flower attendants for Michael Huisman were Mrs. Terry Deters and Mrs. Mike Freese. Pallbearers were Mike Reents, Joe D. Reents, Mike Freese, Lindsey Beving, Mitch Deters and Terry Deters.

Interment services were held at the Hazel Green Cemetery, rural Ackley. Following the committal services relatives and friends were invited to the Wellsburg Community Building for a time of Christian fellowship and refreshment.

Doyen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Speck Huisman Was Councilman For 28 Years
Lester "Speck" Huisman lost his life on Thursday afternoon, November 4, 1982 in a gas pipeline explosion near Hudson. He reached the age of 63 years, 10 months and 17 days.

He was born on a farm north of Wellsburg on December 17, 1918, the son of Meint and Ellen (Lamb) Huisman and received his early education in the German No. 7 country school in the area. He graduated from the Wellsburg high school with the class of 1936.

Speck served in the U.S. Army during World War II, having joined the National Guard on December 9, 1940 and then was called to active duty on February 10, 1941. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division, 185th Field Artillery and received his basic training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana before his unit was sent overseas to Ireland in April of 1942. He served in the North African theater and also in the Italian Campaign. He received his honorable discharge from the service on May 15, 1945 at Jefferson Barracks, MO.

On October 1, 1945 he was married to Marlys Sally Bush at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They made their home in Wellsburg following their marriage and have lived there all of their married life. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Wellsburg.

Speck and his brother Ralph were engaged in the tiling business for over 34 years. His son Mike and Ralph's son Toby have been associated with the business for the last several years.

He was a charter member of the Wellsburg Amvet Post 91 and was their first Commander. He served on the Wellsburg City Council for 28 years and was also Mayor pro-tem. He was an avid sportsman and always enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Preceding him in death were his parents, a brother, Herbert Huisman, and two sisters in infancy.

Those left to mourn his passing are his wife, Sally; his daughter, Peggy Huisman of Rockford; 4 brothers and 1 sister, Gene Huisman of Holland, Eldon Huisman of Sarasota, FL, Ralph Huisman of Wellsburg, Mrs. Wanda Hoekstra of Grundy Center and Mayo Huisman of Rapid City, SD; also many other relatives and friends.

Graveside military rites were conducted by the Wellsburg Amvet Post No. 91 and the Wellsburg American Legion Ashing-Jaspers Post No. 213.

--Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 November 1982, sec 2, pg 1