Fredrick Maurice Speer

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the good Lord suddenly called one of the best men I have ever known home, Fredrick Maurice Speer. In addition to being the absolute love of his wife Lonnie’s life, he was a wonderful father and is survived by two beautiful daughters, Dania Beck of Duncan, South Carolina and Natalie Kiefer of Flat Rock, North Carolina, as well as 2 sons-in-law, Chris Kiefer and Ryan Beck (now remarried, but still loved), who are the fathers of the grandchildren he was so proud of, Grayson and Avery Beck and Maci and Jamison Kiefer and his faithful German Shepherd Remi. Additionally, oh so many friends, who have become family. 

 Fred was born on August 9, 1946, in Bethany, Missouri, to a young girl at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable to give birth at her young age; because of her and her family’s decision to go forward with it, she gave birth to a small, but healthy baby boy and unselfishly gave him up for adoption to Ralph Newton Speer and Vivian Letha Speer, who faithfully fulfilled their commitment to love and care for him until they preceded Fred in death. The family thanks all these individuals for their unselfish decisions without whom, including Fred, 6 of the above-mentioned individual's lives would not have been possible. 

 As a young man, Fred grew up loving family, animals, baseball, rock and roll music and muscle cars. He graduated high school in 1964 and was drafted into the Army in 1965 and honored the country he loved so much by serving in Vietnam. Upon his honorable discharge, in 1967, he married briefly and divorced, and he worked at Armstrong Tire and Rubber in Des Moines, Iowa, for 19 years. In 1970, he met and subsequently married his soulmate, Lonnie on November 10, 1972, and together they raised their family, including their beloved dog Rowdy, in Ankeny, Iowa, until moving to Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1987, where he worked as an Ironworker for Arlington Structural Steel, until his retirement in 2008. After waiting patiently for Lonnie to also retire in 2010, they mourned the loss of pet Bailey, as they moved on to Maricopa, Arizona. 

 Fred’s family best remembers him for his commitment to his family, whether it was teaching them and coaching their softball, traveling from town to town watching gymnastic meets or volleyball…he was all in, often with little sleep due to his work schedule and his commitment to serve his community as a volunteer on the Ankeny Fire Department. His love of cooking, which was legendary, was appreciated by the entire family. He truly loved his country, loved the fall season best and everything it brought, leaves changing color, Halloween, football, and deer hunting and fishing. A must mention is his love of the movie American Graffiti, if he does not hold the world record for viewing it…he’s got to be a close second. That’s our Fred, he’s in our hearts, but we’ll miss him forever. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to… 

Tunnel to Towers Foundation,

 Alzheimer’s Association,

 Troopathon. 

J. Warren Funeral Services are handling arrangements.