Obituaries : Dale Speidel

Dale Speidel, 102, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Vinton Lutheran Home. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Channel officiating. Friends may visit with the family before the service from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Saturday.

Dale Speidel was born on September 4, 1922 in Kirkwood, Illinois and grew up on a small farm in that area. Like anyone who went through the Great Depression, he learned to make the best of whatever he had and appreciate it and helped his parents make ends meet as he was growing up. After graduating from high school, he moved to Washington state. He went to welding school and passed the naval welding test. He welded on ship hulls until Uncle Sam called him to serve in World War II. Drafted on April 22, 1943, he left for service in England and didn't return home to see his parents for three years. He served in the European Theatre and achieved rank of First Sgt. After the war, he met Myrna Hecox on a blind date in Burlington, Iowa and they were united in marriage on November 29, 1947. He began drilling water wells in the Burlington area and later moved to Vinton to start Speidel Well Drilling. He worked long, hard hours during all seasons and always gave his customers the best he could. His work ethic prevailed- no matter how hard the job was, he never gave up until his goals were accomplished. The business he started is still operating 77 years later.

Dale's favorite past times were going to basketball games to see his daughter (and later granddaughters and great granddaughters) play. He rarely missed a game. He enjoyed maintaining and visiting his cabin/pond that he built with his sons. You'd often see him driving out there with his best friend, Henry the dog in the passenger seat. Dale enjoyed countless trips to Fort Myers Beach with Myrna and shared these trips with many family members; including his great-grandchildren. Dale recently had the privilege of traveling on the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight with his granddaughter. Dale worked drilling wells until he was 88 years old and helped farm until he was 97. He was still mowing his yard at 101.

In 2024, he was raking gravel into the driveway when he suffered a fall and broke his hip. He had surgery to repair it and later fell again causing another break. He spent his remaining time in the Vinton Lutheran Home. He passed peacefully on November 6, 2024.

Dale is survived by his wife of 77 years, Myrna (Hecox) Speidel. Sons, David Speidel and Steve (Lexa) Speidel and daughter, Traci (Jordan) Pflughaupt. His grandchildren, Jaycob Pflughaupt (Lynne Sundberg), Whitney (Justin) Nosbisch, Tanner Speidel (Meredith Glynn), Jessica (Paul) Rector, Jennica (Brandon) Jordan, Taylor Pflughaupt (Ashley Rowan), Rylie Pflughaupt (Aric Hanson), Jarrica (Ben) Walston. His great-grandchildren; Callie Nosbisch, Ayden Nosbisch, Leni Nosbisch, Korbin Nosbisch, Emma Rector, Ava Rector and Sophie Jordan.

The family would like to extend a thank you to all of the caregivers over the past six months. In lieu of flowers, please direct any memorial contributions to the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight in Dale's honor.