Iris Spek

Iris Jakoba Martha VanSleeuwen Spek came to this earth on a spring day in April, the 27th, 1945, just before the end of the second World War.  She was born in Ludenscheid, Germany to Cornelis and Hendrika VanSleeuwen, and spent her childhood in the Netherlands with two younger brothers, Paul and Ron.  At the age of ten, she and her family immigrated to the United States, living in Idaho and Oklahoma, then settling in Salt Lake City, UT where she graduated from Granite High School.
At the tender age of 18, Iris married her childhood roommate and friend, Ben Spek, whose family had also immigrated to America.  They moved to a then rural suburb of Salt Lake City, at the edge of an apple orchard on Winesap Road, where they were blessed with six children, Debbie, Michelle, Kimberly, Benji, Tim and Rachel.  Iris was a creative homemaker, creating cakes with zucchini and baking her tasty cinnamon rolls and wheat bread.  She decorated her home with art she created herself, painting a forest worth of wood items, quilting and sewing, and always sharing her talents by teaching others how to create as well.
Ben and Iris were able to serve two missions together, in Belgium and the Netherlands, and they thoroughly enjoyed visiting their homeland together as adults.  Iris made many friends and all who met her were enchanted by her kind nature—she made many lovely memories and had a very blessed life.  She also had trials during her life: her son Benji and grandson Tyrell passed away as children, and her body betrayed her with ovarian cancer, but Iris showed strength of character, faith and endurance.  Iris and her family witnessed many miracles and on January 24, 2016, just prior to her 71st birthday, she was reunited with loved ones on the other side, defeating cancer at last, and finishing her extraordinary life on earth.
Services for this amazing woman will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2016.  A viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:30, and a funeral service at 11:00am at the Butler Stake Center, 7035 Nutree Dr. in Cottonwood Heights, UT.  Interment will be at Mountain View Memorial Estates, 3115 E. 7800 S. Cottonwood Heights.
Service Information
Viewing January 27, 2016 at 9:30 am - 10:45 am
7035 South Nutree Drive, Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121





Celebration of Life
January 27, 2016 at 11:00 am
7035 South Nutree Drive, Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121