Wilbur Kendall SPECHT

SPECHT, INMAN, LARSSON, LARRSON, MERTENS, KWAPIL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:56

November 6, 1922 ----- November 16, 2017

Mr. Wilbur K. Specht, 95, of Burlington, formerly of Danville, died at 12:05 a.m. Thursday, November 16, 2017 at Bickford Cottage Assisted Living. Born November 6, 1922 in Wright County, Iowa , he was the son of Julius William and Anna Florence (Inman) Specht. On August 11, 1944 he married Flora Mae Larsson in Wright County Iowa.

Wilbur worked for John Deere, setting up the first IBM machine and farmed before beginning classes at Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas. He then served in the Navy traveling to China and the South Pacific, attaining rank of Quartermaster before returning home and graduating from Marshalltown with his Associate's Degree. He was employed with the Department of Natural Resources for 35 years and was the Superintendent of Parks for Eastern Iowa.

He attended Bethany Lutheran Church, serving as treasurer for many years. He was also involved in Elks, Moose, and Eagles Clubs. He enjoyed reading, camping, fishing, golfing, and tending to the strawberries and flowers. He was proud to have traveled to all fifty states including Alaska and Hawaii. Wilbur was also a woodworker, building his own home in Danville. He loved his family, grandchildren, and his cat, Peach. After moving to Bickford Cottage he could be found caring for the garden and birds. In November of 2010 he was on the Honor Flight from the Quad Cities.

Survivors include his wife of seventy-three years, Flora; two daughters, Rebecca (Bill) Mertens of St. Louis, MO and Deanna (Joseph) Kwapil of Palo, IA; five grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Dorothy and Ledah; and two brothers; Gerald and Leonard.

The funeral service for Mr. Specht will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 20th at Bethany Lutheran Church. The Rev. Paul Hermansen will officiate. A luncheon will follow the funeral service at Bethany Lutheran Church. Interment will be in Long Creek Cemetery. The Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military rites. Visitation will be from 3 until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, November 19th at Lunning Chapel where the family will receive friends. Memorials have been established for Bethany Lutheran Church or Friends of Geode PO Box 156, New London, IA 52645.

Burlington Hawk Eye ---- Burlington, Iowa
November 17, 2017