William F. Speake

William F. Speake, 77, went to be with his Lord from his residence in Gibbon at 11:30 pm on December 16, 2016 following a lengthy illness.



Services will be Thursday, December 22, 2016 at 10:30 am at the Apfel Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Robert Thornton and Pastor Jean-Paul Escalera officiating the graveside. Burial will be at 2 pm at the Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield. Visitation will be December 21, 2016 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Apfel Funeral Home Chapel, Hastings. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.apfelfuneralhome.com. Apfel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.



William was born in Aurora, NE to Bernard D. and Audrey (Post) Speake on June 11, 1939. He attended elementary school at Fairfield, NE. He graduated from high school and joined the Army with his best Friend on the buddy system.



His early aspiration was to become a lawyer and go into politics. Bill loved music and spent a period of time playing as a guitarist in a small band. He wrote several songs that were never published.



He married Violet Clark in 1960. To this union was born two daughters, Sheila and Karla. The marriage ended in divorce. He was married again to Joyce Green in Marysville, KS. To this union was born a son, Bernard Daniel. That marriage ended in divorce. He married Nona Duncan in 1973 at his mothers home in Marysville, KS. He and Nona raised their children together and to this union was born a son, Jason.



He spent many years as a long distance truck driver. He felt called by God to attend Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, TX. During this time he served in the area as the assistant pastor at Friendly Baptist Church. He and his wife relocated to Nebraska and served in several different churches in the Adams and Clay county areas.



William lost his precious wife Nona to cancer in 2006. He then retired from the ministry and served as a layman in his local church and occasionally he was asked to bring a message to relieve the pastor when he had to be away from the pulpit.



On November 17, 2012 he married Marcy Mizell Grimmett of Gibbon, where he resided until his death.



He is survived by his wife Marcy, sons, Bernard Daniel of York, Maine and Jason of Hastings, daughters, Sheila Speake of Lincoln, and Karla Pollard of Garland, TX, step children, Tony and Curtis Mulinix both of Grand Island, Michael Mulinix of El Cajon, CA, Greg Droppleman of Grand Island, Laurie Ellingson, of York, sisters, Liz Roudybush of Leonardville, KS, Bernadine Burdo of Palmdale, CA and brothers, James of Hastings and Dick Speake of Gibbon, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.