Person Page 3,530

Osborn C. Cook was born in 1879 in Kansas.¹ He and Sarah (Sadie) Elizabeth Breazeale were married on 29 June 1907 in Henry County, Iowa.¹ He died in 1924, at age ~45. He was buried in Sharon Cemetery, Mount Hamill, Lee, Iowa.

Oma Rozella Cook was born on 18 January 1910 in Donnellson, Lee, Iowa.¹ She and Ward Donovan Brokaw were married on 27 November 1929 in Alameda County, California.² She died on 15 March 2003, at age 93.¹

Ward Donovan Brokaw was born on 18 April 1906 in California.² He and Oma Rozella Cook were married on 27 November 1929 in Alameda County, California.³ He died on 1 December 1976, at age 70, in Riverside County, California.²

Ward Donovan Brokaw was a Ward's Cleaning Service.⁴

Vera J. Breazeal Cook was born on 27 November 1911 in Lee County, Iowa.¹ She and Irwin E. Spiesz were married on 25 March 1932 in Modesto, Stanislaus, California.² She died on 28 July 2007, at age 95, in Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.¹ She was buried on 31 July 2007 in Glendale Memorial Gardens, Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.^3,2

Vera J. Spiesz

November 27, 1911 to July 28, 2007

Vera J. Spiesz 95, of 444 Parkway Drive passed away at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, July 28, 2007 at Pekin Hospital.

Vera was born in Lee County, Iowa on November 27, 1911 to Osborne and Sadie Breazeale Cook. She married Irwin Spiesz n March 25, 1932 in Modesto, California. He died on April 23, 1990

Preceding in death are two grandchildren, one brother and two sisters.

Surviving are: one daughter Patricia Jean (Kenneth) Crawford of Pekin, three sons, Edwin (Sally) Siesz of North Ridgeville, OH, Darrell (Darlene) Spiesz and Irwin Earl (Sharon) Spiesz both of Pekin; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and six great great grandchildren

Vera was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where she was active in the Rachel Sarah Circle, Tri-M Sunday School class and the Friendship Club. She was also a member of the Caterpillar Retirees Club, UAW Retiree Club and the Royal Neighbors of America.

She loved to crochet and do tool work with leather.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at Henderson Funeral Home in Pekin, The Rev. Gary Ford will officiate. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a. Tuesday at he funeral home.

Irwin E. Spiesz was born on 3 January 1909 in Charleston, Lee, Iowa.^2,3 He and Vera J. Breazeal Cook were married on 25 March 1932 in Modesto, Stanislaus, California.⁴ He died on 23 April 1990, at age 81, in Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.³ He was buried in Glendale Memorial Gardens, Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.³

Darrell Eugene Spiesz was born on 10 November 1936 in Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.¹ He died on 11 March 2015, at age 78, in Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.¹ He was buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.¹

Daryl E. Spiesz was born on 30 July 1960 in Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.¹ He died on 10 September 2014, at age 54, in Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.¹ He was buried on 16 September 2014 in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.¹

Daryl E. Spiesz, 54, of Pekin, passed away at 3:12 AM Wednesday September 10, 2014 at his home.
He was born July 30, 1960 in Pekin to Darrell and Darlene (Martin) Spiesz. He married Christy Cottingham, August 19, 2014. She survives.
Also surviving are his parents, Darrell and Darlene Spiesz of Pekin; two sons, Daryl Spiesz Jr. of Canton, and Robby Rockhold II of Pekin; two daughters, Lacy Rockhold of Pekin and Dana Spiesz of Pekin; and one sister, Kelly (Brad) Volk of Pekin.
Visitation will be 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr, Pekin. Graveside services will be at 2:00 pm at Lakeside Cemetery.

Patricia Jean Spiesz was born on 23 May 1933 in Charleston Township, Lee, Iowa.² She died on 27 October 2018, at age 85, in Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.² She was buried on 31 October 2018 in Glendale Memorial Gardens, Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois.^2,1

Patricia Jean “Pat” Crawford, 85, of Pekin, passed away at 10:43 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Hallmark House Nursing Center in Pekin and went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Born May 23, 1933 in Charleston Township, Lee County, Iowa to Irwin E. and Vera J. (Cook) Spiesz, she married Kenneth Oliver Crawford on April 5, 1953 (Easter Sunday) at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin. He survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Steven (Terry) Crawford, Gregory (Jessie) Crawford, both of Pekin and Rev. Michael (Rev. Patty Johanson) Crawford of Quincy; one daughter, Karen May of Pekin; eleven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren and one brother, Edwin (Sally) Spiesz of North Ridgeville, Ohio. She also leaves many dear friends, including Janice Peterson, her caregiver.

She was preceded in death by her parents; twin sons, Dennis Eugene Crawford and Daniel Bruce Crawford and two brothers, Darrell Spiesz and Irwin “Buck” Spiesz.

Pat moved to Pekin with her family when she was quite young and prior to her marriage, she was a member of Second Reformed Church. Pat joined Grace United Methodist Church on Palm Sunday, the week prior to her marriage. She was proud to be the first co-op student from Pekin High School to work for Caterpillar, where she worked until her marriage to Kenny. After her husband was drafted into the military, Pat moved in with her parents since she was pregnant with twins. While her doctor knew she was expecting twins, he didn’t realize they were joined. Pat gave natural birth to twin sons joined at the chest and stomach. As soon as Pat regained her strength, after the birth, she joined her husband at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. From there, Ken, was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas where Steve was born. As the family grew and were in school, Pat worked part-time at Prudential Insurance. Later, while living in Staunton, Pat worked as a fill-in girl at the local telephone company. All the time, she was very active in the Methodist church, making hospital visits, as well as starting Dial-A-Devotion. Pat was also a member and past two-year president of the United Methodist Women. Upon returning to Pekin in 1979, Pat and her husband became the co-owners of Lynn’s Christian Book Store, where they worked side by side for the next 16 years. In 1980, they changed the name to The Christ Centered Store. In 1990, Pat and Kenny were named grand marshals of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. As owners of The Christ Centered Store, they received the Good Neighbor Award. She was also very active in the United Methodist Church with Lay Witness Missions, where she often worked with youth and coordinated several Youth Missions without Kenny. In 1994, Pat was diagnosed with A.L.S., which involved several trips to Iowa City, the Mayo Clinic and Barnes Hospital. Much to the amazement of her doctors, Pat’s health remained fairly steady for many years.

Pat loved to read and crochet. She also kept an album with pictures of her work. To date, Pat has made 70 afghans, as well as numerous baby sweaters, bonnets and booties. She also has made pillows, capes for granddaughters and many pot holders for friends’ birthdays.

She was an active and faithful member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, where she was a member of the Young Adult Methodist Adult Sunday school class, the Friendship Club and the United Methodist Women. She formerly served the church as a youth group leader, Sunday school teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher.

Pat and Kenny worked closely together over the years and received many recognitions and awards reflecting their oneness in spirit and devotion to serving the Lord. The Lord has blessed them beyond anything they could have ever dreamed. They have often said, “What folks often miss is the willingness to follow the Lord’s leading.” In other words, why me, Lord? Are you sure I am the one? Pat and Kenny strongly believe that “The Lord doesn’t make mistakes, we as humans do. God is good, all the time!”

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin. The Rev. Dr. Joel P. Catlin will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, and also from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church for the Sharing God’s Grace Building Fund, 601 North 4th Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.