Edward W Speer

Dr. Edward W. Speer Edward Wendell Speer, DVM, long-time Stanwood veterinarian, died February 24, 2016 at Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, IA with his family at his side. Visitation will be held at Stanwood Union Church on Sunday, February 28 from 11:00am - 2:00pm, with the Funeral Service immediately following. Burial and Graveside services will follow at Stanwood City Cemetery with a luncheon at Stanwood Union Church immediately following. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Ed was born October 27, 1929 and raised on the family farm in Clearwater, Kansas, son and eldest child of Effie Rae (Bump) and Levi Wendell Speer. He attended a one-room school elementary, graduated from Clearwater High School, then went on to graduate from Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1952. While at Kansas State he was an active member of the Farm House fraternity. After veterinary school Ed served in the U.S. Air Force Veterinary Corp from 1952-1954 as Base Veterinarian at McConnell AFB, Wichita, Kansas. He then relocated with his family to Stanwood, Iowa in Nov 1954 where he established a sole veterinary practice until retirement in August, 2008. Ed practiced veterinary medicine in Stanwood for 58 years. For several years he also maintained a second office in Olin, Iowa. Ed married Lenora J. Melzer in Topeka, Kansas on June 20, 1952. They are the parents of four children, Thomas, Bradford, Kristin, and Kymberly. Ed was active in the community and served as President of the Lincoln Community School Board, was a member of the Stanwood Town Council and a volunteer fireman, and was a member of many other local civic organizations. As Scoutmaster, he led a troop of area boys to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, NM, in 1970, and again to the Boundary Waters Canoe Base in Ely, Minnesota, in 1971. Ed also was active in various state veterinary associations, and was a past President of the Eastern Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, Board Member of the Iowa Veterinary Association, and a lifetime member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. One of Ed's greatest interests outside of his family and veterinary work was flying. A private pilot, he owned and flew a Cessna 195, the "family bus", for flights in the midwest, south, and southwest U.S., and as far north as Timmons, Ontario in Canada. He later converted the same plane to fly sport parachute jumpers for a few summers based out of the Tipton airport. Ed is survived by his wife Lenora, married for nearly 64 years, sons Thomas (Kathy Long) of Poulsbo, WA and Bradford (Janet Allison) of San Diego, CA, daughters Kristin (Richard Morgan) of Belmont, CA and Kymberly (Charles Cuda) of Lafayette, CA, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and sisters Laura Varney of Manhattan, KS and Klonda Speer of Princeton, NJ. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Dorcas Severence. Ed was devoted to his family, and beloved by his veterinary colleagues and many friends. Memorials may be made to the Stanwood Union Church, or choice of the donor.