Don F. Speckman, 82, of 11137 Circle Drive, Saint Marys, died 5:06 A.M. Saturday, December 12, 2009, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in Saint Marys, following complications of a long illness.

He was born January 4, 1927, in New Bremen, the son of Felix and Erma (Bertke) Speckman.
He married Jeannette Reitz on May 21, 1949; she survives at the residence.

He is also survived by his two sons: Craig Speckman of Saint Marys; Chris (Janice) Speckman of New Knoxville; by four grandchildren: Jeff (Julie) Speckman of Saint Marys; Sheila (Jason) Vanderhorst of Saint Marys; Amy (Danny) Cousino of Wapakoneta; Kelly (Chad) Howell of Celina; by 11 great-grandchildren; by a brother, Dale (Beverly) Speckman of Dayton; by a sister-in-law, Margaret Patton of Denver, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Don was a 1944 graduate of Sidney High School. He served in the US Army during WWII. He was the founder and owner of Speckman Automotive, with stores in Saint Marys, Wapakoneta, and Lima. He was a member of American Legion Post 323 in Saint Marys and the Idlewild Men’s Club. He was a member of Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ in Saint Marys, where he had previously served on the consistory. He loved fishing and the outdoors. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather; his warm, out-going personality made him a friend to all.

Funeral rites will be held 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at the Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ in Saint Marys, the Reverend Ed Bray, officiant. Private family burial rites will follow.

Friends may call from 4-8 P.M. Tuesday at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, where memorial donations may be directed to either Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ, State of the Heart Hospice or the Otterbein Saint Marys Benevolence Fund.