Leona A. Speel

Age 99 of Appleton, passed away early Saturday morning, January 23, 2016 at St. Paul Elder Services. Leona was born in Little Chute on August 6, 1916, daughter of the late Frank and Anna (Habermann) DeGroot. Leona attended school in Little Chute and Appleton, and served as the secretary for the first full-time Appleton District Attorney. On October 5, 1940, Leona married Lawrence M. Speel. He preceded her in death in 1994.

Leona lived her Catholic faith and was devoted to her six children, twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Leona is survived by her children: Lawrence F. Speel of Duluth, Minnesota; Mary Ann Speel of Appleton; Susan (Gerald) Hamill of Burnsville, Minnesota; Barbara (Michael) Matter of Appleton; Geralynn (Howard) DeCleene of Appleton; and Michael (Lavern) Speel of Green Bay. Her grandchildren are: Steven Hamill, Sarah (Hamill) Haase, Deborah Hamill, Andrea Matter, Michael Matter, Matthew DeCleene, Christopher DeCleene, Kathryn DeCleene, Rachel Speel, Nicholas Speel, Anthony Speel and Stephanie Speel. Her great-grandchildren are Elizabeth and William Hamill, Meagan and Blake Haase, Josephine and Charlotte Allen, Everett and Eva Matter, and Morgan DeCleene.

Leona is survived by two siblings: Francis (Lois) DeGroot of Appleton and Florence Duca of Pewaukee. Preceding her in death are Leona's siblings Lucile Kolosso, Sister Madeline DeGroot, James DeGroot, Daniel DeGroot and Leslie DeGroot, as well as Lawrence's siblings Isabelle (Speel) Tesch and Henry Speel.

The funeral liturgy for Leona will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 500 W. Marquette Street in Appleton, with Fr. Thomas J. Farrell officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Family members and friends are invited to gather at the church on Tuesday morning from 9:30 AM until the hour of the service.