Archie Edward Specht, 86, Piqua, died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute.
Archie was born in Piqua, Feb. 27, 1929, the fourth of six children to Carl and Mary Specht. He graduated from Iola High School in 1947. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country in Korea from 1951 to 1953. Following his honorable discharge from the service, he went into business with his dad, Carl, as co-owner of Specht Appliance. In his younger years, he was employed by MKT Railroad, Kreimer Appliance, Lehigh Cement and the Piqua Co-op. He was a life-long resident of Piqua and farming was his life.
He was an avid baseball player and fan. He immensely enjoyed watching the Kansas City Royals. Archie was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and a charter member of the Knights of Columbus No. 2289. He was a 4th Degree member and Past Grand Knight of Council No. 2289. He served as president of Piqua Co-op for six years; served on Piqua and Yates Center school boards and on the boards of Woodson County SCS and the Farm Management Association No. 6.
In 1951, Archie married Amaryllis Geer.
Survivors are his wife Amaryllis (Amy); one son, Brian (Sarah) Specht, Piqua; three daughters, Michelle (Tim) DiLisio, Chanute, Lisa (Dave) Fontaine, Iola, Carla (Tom) Mueller, Iola; son-in-law, Larry Wilson, Iola; grandchildren, Josh (Jerrica) Mueller, Drew Mueller, Brooke (Chris) Heffern, Bryan Mueller, Megan Specht, Briana Specht, Maggie Wilson, Michael Wilson; great-grandchildren, Jaxen and Jonas Mueller; brothers, Lloyd Specht, Piqua, Henry Specht, Overland Park, Frank Specht, Piqua; sister, Mary Louise Collins, rural Humboldt.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two children, Michael F. Specht (1974) and Nancie L. Wilson (2006) and one sister, Bernice Wille.
Rosary will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola. Visitation will immediately follow the rosary at approximately 6:45-8 p.m. Thursday at St. John’s Parish Hall in Iola.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua. Burial will be at St. Martin’s Cemetery, Piqua.
Memorials may be made to St. Martin’s Cemetery Fund. Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.