Arnold LaCombe
(August 22, 1917 - June 1, 2007)

MUNISING

Arnold “Speck” LaCombe, age 89, of West M-28 Munising died Friday, June 1, 2007 at Tendercare Health Center in Munising. He was born on August 22, 1917 in Munising to the late John and Henrietta LaCombe (nee Rabiteau). He was a graduate of William G. Mather in 1935. Speck married Henrietta St. Martin on November 20, 1937 and together they raised eight children. From 1938 to 1944, Speck and Henrietta lived at the Munising Pumping Station, with Mrs. Kathryn Simmons, great aunt to the Carmody’s. For the next six years he assisted her operating the pumps. In 1945 Speck entered the United States Army, and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. On his arrival home, Speck worked at the Ford garage in Munising. Speck began full time employment in August, 1952 at the Munising Paper Company. He was hired as a clerk, and throughout his employment he worked in the billing department. He was promoted to Billing Supervisor and eventually to the position of Head Order and Billing Clerk, the job he held at the time of his retirement. He retired on January 1, 1980 after twenty-seven years of employment with Kimberly-Clark. After retirement Speck stayed busy with his “obsession” with firewood and his perfect wood piles. He enjoyed his time fishing with his fishing buddies Merle Karr and Tom Fulcher, and was an avid hunter, with his most cherished times with his companion Snuffy. Speck had his own ideas of being a “snowbird”, instead of leaving for the winters; he could not wait for the snow so he could start plowing. He was an inventive crafty man, a jack of all trades. Speck could fix or build almost anything; he was especially proud of his custom Lake Superior sand stone siding. He loved to read, and was always trading books with his sister Vivian. Speck was always putting a smile on someone’s face with his keen sense of humor, or drawing his cartoon art that his grandchildren loved.

He is survived by his wife of over sixty-nine years – Henrietta; children – Thomas, Diane (John) Popp, Mary Kaye (Tom) Fulcher, Lorraine (Rick) Runsat, Susie (LaCombe) Anderson, Dan (Phyllis), Celeste (Rob) Wiitanen; daughter-in-law – Jean Ann (Wilcox) LaCombe; son-in-law – Harold Anderson; twenty-two grandchildren; thirty-six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sisters – Lucille Artibee, Sister Joan Cecile, Vivian Rousseau; brother – Bill LaCombe; and numerous nieces and nephews. Speck was preceded in death by his parents; son – David; daughter-in-law – Darlene (McNally) LaCombe; grand-daughter – Gail (Popp) Eggleton; grandson – Thomas Daniel Fulcher and eight brothers and sisters.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Father Chris Gardiner at Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at LaMothe Hall at Sacred Heart.

Submitted by Char Livermore