Dr. Wilfred “Spec” Spector
SPECTOR, GUNN, TAYLOR, SANDERS, KERSTEN, WILKINSON
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 3/31/2025 at 09:15:44
Dr. Wilfred “Spec” Spector, 96, of West Branch, died on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Crestview Specialty Care.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. A private family funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.
Dr. W. M Spector or “Spec” as he was called, was born on the 19th of March, 1929 in Waukegan, Illinois the son of Ellyn (Gunn) and George Spector.
He was raised in Waukegan and attended Waukegan High School, graduating a semester early. He then went to the University of Illinois and the Illinois University College of Podiatric Medicine, graduating June 6, 1952.
Following graduation, he practiced podiatry with his father in Waukegan.
Spec joined the Navy in August, 1952, serving until June, 1954. After he was discharged, he came to Iowa City where he started his own podiatry practice. For many years, he was the only podiatrist in the area.
During part of this time, he also worked at the VA Medical Center caring for veterans. His warm and personal style was recognized by VA staff, veterans and his many patients.
Spec sold his practice and retired in May, 1994.
He married Ellen Taylor in June, 2000 in a ceremony at the Iowa River Power Company and moved to West Branch, Iowa.
During his years in Iowa City, he was an avid runner and participated in marathons. He also enjoyed fishing, duck hunting and golf. After his retirement, he worked at Finkbine golf course for several years.
Spec had many hobbies. He collected die cast airplanes and had over 500 of them. He also had fish tanks with various types of fish.
During his vacation, he went to Sanibel Island, Florida where he eventually purchased a condo on the bay side of the island. Fishing became his pastime while he was there, often catching enough fish from the pier to host a fish fry for neighbors. One year he caught a large sailfish which still hangs on his wall.
He was also a photographer. Sanibel offered him picturesque views of birds and landscapes.
Spec is survived by his wife Ellen Spector of West Branch; sister Glorialee Sanders of Florida; children: Bill Kersten and his daughter Lacey of California and Diana Kersten and her son Lucas of California; stepchildren: Amy Wilkinson (Victor) of Georgia and their three children and Eric Wilkinson (Michelle) of Maryland and their three children and Bryan Wilkinson (Katja) of Washington and their two children.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ellyn (Gunn) and George Spector.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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