Edward James Speers, age 96 died peacefully in his sleep at Clark-Lindsey Village on Saturday, August 20, 2011.

Private services will be held with internment in the Mt. Hope Mausoleum, Champaign. There will be no visitation. Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Edward was born in Odell, IL on December 25, 1914, the son of Wallace Speers and Sarah Gordon Speers. He married Virginia Stott in Champaign in November 1947. Virginia passed away in 2004. Survivors include two sons; David Speers, DeForest, WI, Paul Speers, Urbana and a daughter; Carol Simon, Florissant, MO, five grandsons, three granddaughters, four great grandsons and one great granddaughter. Preceding him in death were his parents, one brother; Russell, Pontiac, and four sisters; Jeanette Doran, Chicago, Ruth White, Arlington, VA, Harriet Sebert, West Point, MS, and Evelyn Williams, St. Joseph.

Upon graduation from the Odell schools, he was employed in Chicago, resort hotels in New York and New Jersey and after WW II by the War Assets Administration at Navy Pier in Chicago. Upon graduation from the College of Commerce at the University of Illinois, he was employed by First Federal Savings and Loan in Champaign and served as its president for thirty years. He served a term as a Director of the Illinois Savings League and on several committees of the United Savings and Loan League and with several local organizations.

He was a member of the 11th Armored Division Association, The Air Force Association, The Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, The American Legion, The Ambassador Club and Chi Gamma Iota. He was a life member of the University of Illinois Presidents Council and the University of Illinois Alumni Association. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Champaign, since 1946 and served on several committees, as a trustee and as an usher for over 40 years.

During World War II he served in the Third Army under the command of General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a Master Sergeant in the Eleventh Armored Division which liberated the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the European-African theater ribbon with three battle stars. Prior to overseas service he graduated from the Adjutant General School, Washington, DC.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Champaign.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.