Junie Speier passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 9, 2024. She was 100 years old. She was born June Ann Balsiger in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 8, 1924. She graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1942 and attended Santa Monica Jr. College, majoring in Art & Physical Education.

Junie met the love of her life, Ted Speier, in 1943 in front of the Brown Derby in Los Angeles, while he was on leave in the Army. They were married in 1944 & it lasted almost 75 years. They had three children & raised them in Eureka, California. Junie enjoyed fishing and waterskiing at Big Lagoon in her earlier years and later enjoyed swimming, gardening, and hunting for agates and driftwood, plus spending time with her children at their Big Lagoon cabin. She was very artistic and made a lot of driftwood people and painted rocks to give as gifts.

Junie was an American Red Cross lifeguard and swimming instructor in Los Angeles and then, after moving to Eureka, she taught all the fourth through sixth graders how to swim. She also taught social dancing and etiquette to fifth through seventh graders when she started the Frolic Club in Eureka. Junie will be remembered for her outgoing personality, infectious smile and wonderful sense of humor. She was an inspiration to us all.

From 1950-1981, she taught exercise & swimming for the Eureka Adult Education classes. She was an American Red Cross volunteer for sixty two years & received their Lifetime Achievement Award in June 2004 at the age of eighty.

Junie was preceded in death by her husband Ted, her parents, Henry and Anna Balsiger and her brother, Hank Balsiger. She is survived by her children, Teddie Bell and husband Ken from Spokane, Washington, Spencer Speier from Midway, Utah and Shannon Speier from Hawi, Hawaii: her grandchildren Makani Speier-Brito, Brisa Speier-Brito and numerous nieces and nephews.

Because she had over ninety people who attended her 100th birthday party in February, we ask you to remember her the way you last saw her, since we won’t be having a memorial service. We will have a private gathering in December with the family members, sharing their fondest memories of Junie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Junie Speier to: Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Court, Eureka, CA, 95503 or American Red Cross (Humboldt County Gift Processing), 1565 Exposition Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, California, 95815.

Please send cards to the Speier family, 2560 D Street, Eureka, CA, 95501.

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