Cathy Speicher

Cathy A. Speicher, 60, of Des Moines , formerly from Eldora and Waterloo died on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at the Mercy Hospice in Johnston , Iowa after a long and courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on  Monday, April 26 at the Eldora United Methodist Church in Eldora with Pastor Chris Leonard of the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona, Iowa officiating.  Burial will follow in the Eldora City Cemetery .  Visitation is from 4 to 6 pm on Sunday at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora.

Cathy was born April 10, 1950 in Eldora , Iowa , daughter of Donald Earl Sr. and Barbara Colleen (Crosser) Ames .  She attended elementary school in Eldora then moved to Waterloo with her family where she graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1968.  She was baptized at the First Congregational Church in Waterloo and Confirmed at the First Lutheran Church also in Waterloo .

On October 18, 1969 Cathy was united in marriage to James D. Speicher at the First Lutheran Church .  She stayed at home to raise her children while they were young, and then moved with her family to Des Moines in 1986 where she worked as a housekeeper at the Savery Hotel until 1993 then as executive housekeeper at the Best Western Walnut Creek Inn until 2003.  Cathy was married to James for 23 years, and although their marriage did not survive, their friendship remained until James’ death on November 6, 2001.

Cathy enjoyed her flower garden, birds and collecting bird figurines, and cooking and watching the Food Network.  She gained her greatest pleasures from her family and especially from spending time with her grandchildren, Aidan, Kaylie and Cian McFadden and Brice Sandahl.

She is survived by her children, Lisa (Antonio) Munoz of Waterloo, Lori (Jayme) McFadden of Altoona, and Brian (Sarah) Speicher of Polk City; sisters, Becky (Tom) Moore of Eldora and Christy (Roger) Olson of Washburn; brothers, Donald Jr. (Christine) Ames of Washburn, John O’Brink of Anamosa, and Larry (Connie) McStockard of Whitten, her four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; step-dad, William G. O’Brink; her ex-husband, James, and a sister, Connie Ames.