Barbara Elaine SpeicherNORTH MANCHESTER – Barbara Elaine Speicher, 85, North Manchester, died at 11:23 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.
She was born May 25, 1935, in Mentone, to Paul W. and Esther A. Priser Smith.
She married Daniel E. Speicher II on May 25, 1958. He survives.
Barbara graduated from Manchester High School with the class of 1953. She went on to graduate from Manchester College with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 1957 and later a masters degree in education from St. Francis University in 1969.
Barbara was a gentle soul that never complained or got upset. She was someone that people could always count on and she made sure her family was always taken care of. To her family, she was the perfect wife, mother and homemaker. Barbara was a two-time survivor of breast cancer and during her battles, her toughness would shine through. When she was a member at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, she would teach Sunday school. Barbara enjoyed being at Lake Tippy, being with family, volunteering her time at the Gainesville, Ga., food pantry, cross stitching, but her favorite past time was reading books. She was a former member of Tri-Kappa.
She taught kindergarten at Maple Park and Chester Elementary for 11 years. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Manchester, but most recently started attending Urbana Yoke Parish, Urbana.
Barbara is survived by a son, Daniel E. “Sam” Speicher III, Leesburg; daughters, Paula K. Speicher, North Manchester; Stephany (Jim) Underwood, Hainesport, N.J.; brother, Herbert K. Smith, Warsaw; sister, Angenetta (Stephen) Briner, Silver Lake; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents and two infant sisters.
Calling will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, July 24 at McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114 West, North Manchester. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 24 at the funeral home with Pastor Larry Wade officiating. Burial will be at Speicher Cemetery, County Road 500 North, 1½ miles east of Urbana.
The family has entrusted McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, with final arrangements.
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Memorials to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 13770 Noel Road, Suite 801889, Dallas, TX 75380.
