Walter Hans Speidel

Walter Hans Speidel, 92, passed away August 4, 2015 at home of natural causes. He was born to Johannes Speidel and Maria Raisser on December 5, 1922 in Stuttgart, Germany. Growing up, he was guided by his mother’s new-found LDS faith. Highly intelligent and curious, he excelled at school and athletics.

By his 18th birthday, he found himself in the military during the Second World War, first in the Labor Corps, and then in the Armor Signal Corps. He served in the headquarters company of the Afrikakorps and on the personal staff of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel in North Africa. Narrowly escaping death or injury numerous times, Walter survived the battles of Tobruk and El Alamein, among others. After the German surrender in North Africa, he was captured and sent to POW camps in Alabama, North Carolina, and New Jersey.

Returning to Germany after the war, Walter enrolled at the College of Interpreting and Translating in Stuttgart and worked for South German Radio. In 1948 he graduated with certification. A year later he accepted an LDS mission call to Frankfurt, where he served as assistant to two mission presidents and as a translator.

In the mission home Walter met another young translating missionary, Edeltraud Monika Zanner. They were married in the spring of 1953 and later sealed in the Swiss Temple. From 1953 to 1957, Walter was president of the LDS branch in Stuttgart where, against considerable local opposition, he directed the building of the first local chapel.

Walter emigrated with his young family and newly widowed mother to Utah in 1957. While earning his Master’s degree at the University of Utah, he worked as the chief German translator at Church headquarters. Soon thereafter, he enrolled at the University of Kansas, where he received a PhD in 1963.

He then accepted a faculty position at BYU where he worked until his retirement in 1988. He taught popular courses in German language, literature, and translation/interpretation. He also directed Semester Abroad programs in Austria and Travel Study tours. Walter was a founding member of the Association for Literary and Linguistic Computing, a natural extension of his research on Kafka and his own pioneering work in corpus linguistics.

Walter and Monica loved hiking and were both half-century members of the German Alpine Club, making many forays into the Alps and other areas of the world.

Beyond his accomplishments, Walter also embodied many fine qualities. A quiet man, he avoided the spotlight and would assist people as anonymously as possible. He was always organized, meticulous, and completely prepared. He had a quick and gentle wit. His humble faith anchored him in spite of his turbulent times and circumstances. He inspired others through his example as a superlative husband, father, teacher, and friend. We love him and are all honored to have been a part of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents and both sisters: Elisabeth Gunnell and Ruth Putzel. He is survived by his daughter Daniela (Deryle) Lonsdale, his son Bertram, and his sister-in-law Gisela Sachs.

The family wishes to thank Stonehenge of Orem, Aspen Senior Care (especially Rebecca and Caren), and Envision Home Health and Hospice (especially Nate and Caitlin) for the conscientious, professional, patient, and loving care they provided.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Oak Hills Hillside Chapel, 1960 North 1500 East, Provo. Friends may call from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the chapel. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills, Provo. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.