Tom Speltz, age 74, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 16, at St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Rev. Robert Schneider will officiate. Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday, April 15 from 6-9 p.m. with a prayer service at 8 p.m.

Mr. Speltz was born June 10, 1928, in Albert Lea to Ralph and Marie Speltz. He married Jean Donovan on May 31, 1952. After her death in 1989, he married Celeste MacAllister on May 6, 1991.

This year marked Mr. Speltz’s 50th year in the grain business. Speltz Elevators was established in 1901 by his grandfather and uncle, Theodore and Arthur Speltz. Tom joined his father Ralph in the business in 1953 following military service.

Mr. Speltz helped bring many agricultural innovations to southern Minnesota, including grain dryers, agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, and unit grain trains. A long-time member of the Northwest Agridealers Association, he served as president from 1986 to 1988, spreading these innovations across the upper Midwest.

Active in the community, Mr. Speltz was a board member of the Peoples Savings and Loan for 20 years.

He also was a board member of TriState Insurance, and served two terms on the school board from 1969 to 1975. A long-time member of the Albert Lea Country Club, Mr. Speltz enjoyed many happy and some frustrating hours on the links with friends.

Mr. Speltz is survived by his wife, Celeste; son, John and his wife Barbara of Minneapolis; daughters: Ann and husband Paul Hoedeman of Atlanta, Ga., Sue and husband Steve Rice of St. Cloud, Mary and husband Tim Carroll of St. Paul, and Katie and husband Ryan Lynch of Hudson, Wis.; 13 grandchildren, sister, Jean Shea Brenner of Albert Lea; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albert Lea Hospice.