LeRoy Frank Speed 1927 - 2008

SPEED, HERZMANN, MCLAIN, PETTIT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/8/2019 at 20:11:14

Sioux City Journal
16 May 2008

LeRoy "Bud" Speed, 80, of Sioux City passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at Sunrise Manor in Sioux City.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Faith Christian Fellowship Church, with the Rev. Robert Rasmussen officiating. There will be no visitation. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com.

LeRoy Frank Speed was born May 23, 1927, in Oelwein, Iowa, to George J. and Fredricka (Herzmann) Speed. He attended schools in Oelwein. At the age of 16, he entered the Merchant Marines and spent the next 20 years serving his country, going into the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. While in the service, he worked as a wireman, working on high wire lines.

He and Fern McLain were married in 1952 in San Antonio, Texas. Fern passed away in May 1994. On Oct. 27, 1997, he and LaVon Pettit were married in the Lutheran Church in Goliad, Texas. Other than the states and countries he resided during his military service, they lived in California, Nevada, Texas, Iowa and Oklahoma. After he completed his military service, he worked for 10 years as a caretaker in a cemetery in Nevada.

He was a member of Faith Christian Fellowship Church. He enjoyed the outdoors, doing yard work and working with his flowers and dogs. He would take time to talk to everybody he saw.

Survivors include his wife, LaVon of Sioux City; daughters and spouses, Freda and Pat Phelan of Yuma, Ariz., Jeri Marston of Sioux City, Darlene and James Coover of Sioux City, Betty and Willie Simmons of Texas, and Linda McLain of Washington; sons, Jake McLain of Hawaii and Tom McLain of California; sisters, Helen Feiereisen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Marian Webb of Redman, Wash.; a brother and his wife, George and Olive Speed Jr. of Minnesota; six grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives; and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Fern in 1994; a son, George McLain; sister, Maxine Stanfield; a brother, Paul Speed; two brothers-in-law; and a sister-in-law.

The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to Hospice of Siouxland and the staff of Sunrise Manor for their care during his illness.

Memorials may be directed to the family.