1921
Wilmer
2015
Wilmer Specht
July 23, 1921 — May 17, 2015
Wilmer George Specht, age 93, of Ripon, WI, passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2015, at his home with family by his side.
Wilmer was born July 23, 1921, in Manitowoc, WI, to George and Erna (Rohrbach) Specht Sr. He graduated from Manitowoc Lincoln High School in 1937 and afterwards attended one year at Manitowoc Vocational School. He then went on to a four year apprenticeship at the Manitowoc Shipyard Company and graduated as a journeyman machinist. On September 5, 1942, Wilmer and Violet (Mertz) Specht were married in Sheboygan, WI. Wilmer served in two wars in the US Navy, WWII from 1944 to 1946 and the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.
He was employed 16 years at the JS Richardson Company in Sheboygan Falls, WI in the building of special woodworking machinery. From 1964 – 1966, Wilmer worked as the Superintendent of Maintenance at Armour Leather Company in Sheboygan, WI. In 1966, the Specht’s moved to Cheshire, CT, where he worked as a Manufacturing Engineer for Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the wood department. He retired from Winchester in 1984. Afterwards he worked until 1989 for Machinery Sales Corporation of Wallingford, CT.
The Specht’s moved to Freeport, IL in 1989, where Wilmer was active in the Park Hills Evangelical Church Ambassador Sunday School Class and the Church Friendship Circle, he served on the Finance Committee and was on the board of Malcom Eaton Enterprises and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Wilmer was a member of the Freeport Pilot’s Association. In 2003, they moved to Ripon, WI where he was a member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church. Wilmer’s hobbies and enjoyments were gardening and yard tending, family, woodworking, making home furniture, two violins and general “tinkering”.
Survivors include one daughter, Janet (Chet) Rawson of Markesan, WI; two sons, Jerry (Judy) Specht of Markesan, WI and John Specht of Ripon, WI; granddaughter, Michelle (Kelley) Drake of Chicago, IL; grandson, Max (Kelly) Rawson of Verona, WI; four great-grandchildren, Olivia Rawson of Verona, WI, Brody, Bennett and Nathan Drake all of Chicago, IL; two sisters, Marion Hume of Holt, MI and Lorraine Selle of Valders, WI and one brother, George (Geri) Specht, Jr. of Elkhart Lake, WI. Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Violet M. Specht, brother, Clarence Specht and sister, Henrietta Specht.
Visitation for Wilmer will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, from 10 – 11:00 am at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971.
Memorial Service for Wilmer will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 11:00 am at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon. Pastor Paul Ethington and Art Volkmann will officiate. Memorials may be given to Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 777 Harvey St., Ripon, WI 54971.
Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences
Wilmer was born July 23, 1921, in Manitowoc, WI, to George and Erna (Rohrbach) Specht Sr. He graduated from Manitowoc Lincoln High School in 1937 and afterwards attended one year at Manitowoc Vocational School. He then went on to a four year apprenticeship at the Manitowoc Shipyard Company and graduated as a journeyman machinist. On September 5, 1942, Wilmer and Violet (Mertz) Specht were married in Sheboygan, WI. Wilmer served in two wars in the US Navy, WWII from 1944 to 1946 and the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.
He was employed 16 years at the JS Richardson Company in Sheboygan Falls, WI in the building of special woodworking machinery. From 1964 – 1966, Wilmer worked as the Superintendent of Maintenance at Armour Leather Company in Sheboygan, WI. In 1966, the Specht’s moved to Cheshire, CT, where he worked as a Manufacturing Engineer for Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the wood department. He retired from Winchester in 1984. Afterwards he worked until 1989 for Machinery Sales Corporation of Wallingford, CT.
The Specht’s moved to Freeport, IL in 1989, where Wilmer was active in the Park Hills Evangelical Church Ambassador Sunday School Class and the Church Friendship Circle, he served on the Finance Committee and was on the board of Malcom Eaton Enterprises and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Wilmer was a member of the Freeport Pilot’s Association. In 2003, they moved to Ripon, WI where he was a member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church. Wilmer’s hobbies and enjoyments were gardening and yard tending, family, woodworking, making home furniture, two violins and general “tinkering”.
Survivors include one daughter, Janet (Chet) Rawson of Markesan, WI; two sons, Jerry (Judy) Specht of Markesan, WI and John Specht of Ripon, WI; granddaughter, Michelle (Kelley) Drake of Chicago, IL; grandson, Max (Kelly) Rawson of Verona, WI; four great-grandchildren, Olivia Rawson of Verona, WI, Brody, Bennett and Nathan Drake all of Chicago, IL; two sisters, Marion Hume of Holt, MI and Lorraine Selle of Valders, WI and one brother, George (Geri) Specht, Jr. of Elkhart Lake, WI. Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Violet M. Specht, brother, Clarence Specht and sister, Henrietta Specht.
Visitation for Wilmer will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, from 10 – 11:00 am at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971.
Memorial Service for Wilmer will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 11:00 am at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home in Ripon. Pastor Paul Ethington and Art Volkmann will officiate. Memorials may be given to Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 777 Harvey St., Ripon, WI 54971.
Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilmer Specht, please visit our flower store.
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