Marion Speer

Marion Speer, age 96, of Sioux Center, IA passed away Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM Thursday, December 19th at the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating.   Interment will be held at 2:30PM Thursday at the Oak Hill Cemetery of rural Anthon, Iowa.

A visitation will be held Thursday from 10:00AM until the time of the service at Central Reformed Church.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Speer family prefers memorials be directed to: Sioux Center Public Library.

Live streaming of Marion's service will be available at: Central Reformed Church Live Stream

Marion Alice Speer was born on December 31, 1922, to Martha (Paulsen) and Walter Sterrett on a farm near Anthon, Iowa.  She was the oldest of three children, a brother, Walt (who is deceased) and a sister, Shirley, who resides in Florida.

After graduating as Valedictorian from Anthon High School, Marion furthered her education at Westmar College in LeMars.   She became a teacher, a career she continued for 35 years.  She fell in love with Chet Speer (sometimes called Check) but WWII interrupted their plans.  Chet served 42 months overseas before he was able to return to Iowa to marry his “Skipper” as he so lovingly called her.  They were married in Sioux City on December 22, 1945.  To this union two sons were born ~ Mark and Stan who now both reside in Sioux Center.

Marion and Chet farmed for a few years around Anthon, then moved to Union Township, and finally to LeMars where they stayed until their retirement when grandkids in Sioux Center drew them to move to Sioux Center.

In LeMars, Marion taught in the LeMars Community School District.  She received her four year degree from Westmar College, and eventually received her Master's Degree from the University of South Dakota in 1970.  Marion was instrumental in establishing the Title I / Chapter 1 Reading Program in the State of Iowa.   This program still exists and continues to help students with reading difficulties overcome their struggles.  Marion retired from the LeMars Community School District in 1986.

In 1988, Marion and Chet moved to Sioux Center where they enjoyed the many activities of their two grandsons and were a great help to Stan and Nancy.

Chet passed away September 23, 1992.   Marion and Chet were happily married for 46+ years.   Not a day went by that she didn't think about Chet and all that they shared.

Marion moved to Crown Pointe in January of 2009, and to Royale Meadows in September of 2016.

Marion is survived by her two sons, Mark (Sioux Center) and Stan and Nancy (Sioux Center) as well as grandsons Scott (Lindsay and their children Ava, Lydia, Jake) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota,  and T.J. (Lisa, and their children Adalyn and Stella) of Sioux Center.  She is also survived by her sister, Shirley Beach (John) of Florida, and sister-in-law, Vera Sterrett from Marcus, IA. and several nieces and nephews. 

Marion was preceded in death by her husband Chet, her parents, her brother Walter Sterrett, Jr., and brothers and sisters-in-law Forrest and Ethel Yockey, Lesley and Loretta Speer and Wesley Speer.