Memorials › John Martin Speicher

John Martin Speicher

26 Jul 1889 – 22 May 1968

Birth26 Jul 1889
Death22 May 1968
CemeterySaint Bonaventure Cemetery
Columbus , Platte County , Nebraska , USA
Added byShirley (Bruhn) Martys on 05 Dec 2008
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17770299

Bio

From the web site: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/resources/OLLibrary/Platte/pages/bios/hpcn0170.htm John Martin Speicher, son of Martin and Anna Schram Speicher, was born July 26, 1889, in Columbus. His father, a merchant, was born August 18, 1863, at Algingen, Luxemburg, Germany, and died September 20, 1948, in Columbus. His mother, born June 28, 1866, in Baden, Austria, died in Columbus on June 28, 1939. Mrs. Speicher's parents died in Austria when she was a child, and her uncle, John Schlasinger, brought her to America. They located on a farm in Butler County, five miles southeast of Columbus, in 1872, and on October 9, 1888, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, she was married to Martin Speicher. They established their home in Columbus, where Martin Speicher was first with the J. H.. Galley Dry Goods Store and later started a clothing store of his own. The Martin Speichers celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in Columbus on October 9, 1938. John had six brothers and one sister: William R., Julius N., Albert P., Emil L., Martin A., Edeltrude A., and Joseph H. William was married to Etta Temple, who is deceased; Julius, deceased, was married to Susan Smith; Emil was married to Anne Ruscheart, who is deceased; Martin married Elsie Kluck; Edeltrude married Evard Waite; and Joseph, D.D.S., married Sally Berg, and they live in Omaha. John M. Speicher attended the St. Francis Academy in Columbus and served two years with the United States Army during World War I; one year in the States and one year active duty in France and Germany. After his discharge from the Army, John and his brother Julius became associated with their father in the Speicher and Sons Clothing Company, in Columbus. John Speicher later owned and operated his own clothing store in Spalding, and after that, was the owner and manager of a grocery and meat shop there. He has been associated with the Loup River Public Power District since the early 1940's. On June 17, 1920, at St. Bonaventure's Church, he was married to Gertrude R. Herrod, the daughter of Joseph and Katherine Rephausen Herrod. Mr. Herrod, a railroad foreman for the Union Pacific, was born August 23, 1862, in Dayton, Ohio, and died September 26, 1940, in Columbus. Mrs. Herrod, born March 1, 1866, in Omaha, died October 29, 1944, in Columbus. Gertrude Herrod Speicher had four brothers: Lawrence, deceased, was married to Effie Drawbaugh; Leonard, deceased, was married to Frances Hart; Joseph is married to Hazel Johnson; and Carl is married to Mildred Kavanaugh. Lawrence and Carl were railroad men; Leonard, a pharmacist; and Joseph, a salesman and machinist. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Speicher had two sons: John Martin, Jr., born November 6, 1921, in Columbus; and Joseph William, born June 25, 1923, in Columbus. They attended the Spalding Academy and the University of Nebraska. John Martin, Jr., an Infantry lieutenant, received his commission at Fort Benning, Georgia, in April, 1943, sailed for the Southwest Pacific in July, and served in the Solomon Islands, at the Battle of Munda, and in New Guinea. On August 3, 1944, Lieutenant Speicher was killed in action at Aitape, New Guinea. At the time of his induction into the army, he was a pre-medical student at the University of Nebraska. ================== (See his memorial #10148975. Also, web page: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/resources/OLLibrary/Platte/pages/heros/hpcn0185.htm) Second Lieutenant John M. Speicher, Jr., was born in Columbus, Nebraska, on November 6, 1921, and was killed in action on August 3, 1944, in Aitape, New Guinea. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Speicher of Columbus, and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Speicher, Sr., and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Herrod. His grandparents, with the exception of Martin Speicher, Sr., were then deceased. "Jack" had one brother, Joseph Speicher, of Lincoln, Nebraska. John M. Speicher, Jr., spent most of his boyhood at Spalding, Nebraska. He attended school there, and was graduated from the Spalding Academy in 1939. While enrolled in the academy high school, he was active in athletics, basketball, and track. He made a record in the state track meet at Lincoln, where for two successive years he held second place in the half mile track event. He attended the University of Nebraska for one year before going into the service. He entered the service in September of 1942, and went first to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and from there to Camp Wolters, Texas. While at Camp Wolters, he was selected as a candidate for Officers Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He received his commission at Fort Benning in April of 1943, and was stationed at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, before he went to Pittsburg, California, to the Replacement Depot. He was overseas a year. His service with the infantry included assignments at New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, and Munda, after which he had a rest period of three months. In July, 1944, he went back to action in New Guinea and was killed on August 3, 1944.) Memorial services were held for him in the St. Bonaventure Church, Columbus, Nebraska, with Reverend. John Joseph Brogger, O.F.M., officiating at the Requiem High Mass, and Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion conducting the military rite. ============================= Joseph served in World War II in the Naval Air Corps for four years and three months. He was graduated from the University of Nebraska Law School. On December 30, 1946, Joseph was married to Jean McGowan, the daughter of Doctor Patrick and Marguerite Costello McGowan. They have one son, Joseph William, Jr., born February 24, 1948. John Speicher is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, War Dads, the Sons of Herman, and Knights of Columbus. The Speichers are members of the St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, and Mr. Speicher is a member of the Holy Name Society of the church. Politically, he is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

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