1935-2023
Robert Eugene Speer was born in Bedford, Indiana on May 16, 1935. During his childhood he lived in Bedford, Indiana and Minneapolis, Minnesota. At age 14, he was baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins and remained a dedicated servant of God for the rest his life. It was in Minneapolis that he met the love of his life, Lavon Diestelkamp.
Robert graduated Washburn High School in Minneapolis in 1953 and attended Freed-Hardeman College in Tennessee and Harding College in Arkansas. Robert and Lavon were married on June 8, 1956 in Brookfield, IL, and their marriage grew and prospered for 64 years until her passing in 2020. His service as a gospel preacher took them to Muscatine, IA; Stevens Point and Ashland, WI; Bradley, IL; Nigeria, West Africa; Springfield, MO; Wisconsin Rapids, WI; Plano, IL; Noblesville, IN; Akron, OH; Palatine, IL; and Winchester, KY, where he also served as an elder in a local church. Together with Lavon, Robert was known for his devotion to the Lord and sincere service to help others, especially through his teaching of the gospel and encouragement to all around him.
The Lord blessed them with six children—four daughters and then two sons. His children honor him for his careful and loving teaching and example as he worked to guide and prepare them to follow the Lord toward the same eternal goal. His work of preaching the gospel was never limited to pulpit presentations. He continually taught by word and example at home, in active participation as teacher, counselor and director of youth camps, and in his contact with others. He was especially appreciated by young people whom he taught, counseled and encouraged.
He lived 87 years, 10 months, 10 days and died on March 26, 2023, surrounded by children and sons-in-law. In his final days, family members and others were at his side reading the Bible, praying, singing hymns and expressing their appreciation for a life well-lived. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lavon Diestelkamp Speer; his parents, Robert F. and Alice Marie (Inman) Speer; his in-laws Leslie and Alice Wright Diestelkamp; two brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law. He is survived by his children, Tanja (Dan) Guyer of Winchester, KY; Reneé (Dawson) Guyer of Danville, IN; Benita (Dennis) Allan of Jarinu, Brazil; Dawn (Peter) Thompson of Madison, IN; Rob (Becky) Speer of Rockford, IL; and Kyle (Tawnie) Speer of Orange, CA; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren (including one due to be born soon); his sister, Beverly (Fred) McKinney; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Brownsburg, Indiana by Dennis Allan, Kyle Speer and Rob Speer. His grave is in Pinhook, Indiana. The family wishes to thank Gentiva Hospice for their compassionate care of Robert in his final weeks. They would also like to express heartfelt thanks to Chris Bowman for her extraordinary care for Robert and the family for the past seven months.
He is greatly loved and greatly missed, but we rejoice in our firm hope that we will be reunited with him. He has run the race and finished the course. By the grace of the God he loved and served, he has won.
After opportunities to observe firsthand the good work done through Sacred Selections, Robert became an enthusiastic supporter and believer in its mission. The family requests that donations to this worthy cause be made in lieu of flowers, using this link: https://sacredselec- tions.org/robert-e-speer/