Dieter Norbert Speer

Born April 4th, 1928 in Berlin, Germany, Dieter was a member of the Greatest Generation, and he lived his life robustly and without fear. To say the least he was confident, jolly, and would tell you exactly what he thought. These traits would propel him from war torn Germany after WW2 to the United States.

As a child, Dieter grew up in Berlin, the capital city of Post WW1 Germany and at the tender age of 12 in 1940, he was called by his country to participate in the war effort and he had no choice other than to participate as he was drafted into the Hitler Youth. As WW2 progressed, his Youth unit was put to work defending Berlin from Air Raids. He was assigned to an 88mm Anti-Aircraft battery along with other members of the Hitler Youth. He spoke of children as young as 9 years old working along side him, moving artillery shells from the bunkers to the guns under enemy fire and explosions, until they curled up into a ball and cried amongst the confusion, smoke, and concussions of the artillery fire. As the war ended, he was captured as the Allies took Berlin. Since Dieter knew English he was able to help the Intelligence Officers who interrogated him as he was held as a POW in an American POW camp. He spoke of the chocolate bars they gave him in the camp, and how impressed he was of how well he was treated. He recounts how lucky he was to be an American POW rather than being starved and mistreated under the iron fist of the Russians. As the Russian forces converged on his POW camp, the Americans set Dieter free, because they rightly feared for his safety.

After being set free, Dieter traveled across war torn Germany and met his future wife Charlotte Anna Flauaus in Frankfurt, Germany. They married in 1953, had their first son Ronald Frank Speer in Frankfurt and made their way to the city of Minneapolis, MN in 1954 which had a budding immigrant population of Germans. Here is where their second son, Axel Detlef Speer, was born in 1955. Dieter was never afraid of hard work, and he worked the docks during the day carrying large bags of produce unloading the ships and studied accounting in the evening until he was able to get his business and accounting degree.

Dieter became an internal auditor and worked for several Multi-National corporations, climbing the corporate ladder to the height of his career when he was put in charge of the Western Hemisphere for Black & Decker’s Global operations as Director of Internal Audit. For this, he moved his wife and third child, Belinda Speer Floyd, born in 1968, back to Germany in 1976. After a long and successful career in the States and Germany, Dieter and Charlotte moved back to the States and settled in Charlotte, NC where he retired in 1990.

Charlotte & Dieter were married for 52 years when she was suddenly taken from him in 2005. He was also predeceased by his son Ronald Frank Speer in 2017. Dieter is survived by his brother Juergen Speer of Hamburg, Germany, son Axel Detlef Speer of Charlotte, NC, daughter Belinda Speer Floyd and husband Richard Alan Floyd of Roaring Gap, NC, as well as Axel’s children Melissa Teahl, and her two children Kayla Teahl and Logan Teahl, and daughter Laura Speer, and her daughter Raina Speer of Charlotte, NC and Ronald’s children Megan, Stefanie and Brian Speer of Raleigh, NC.

Dieter lived his life to the fullest and had a good heart. He enjoyed chess, and his electric trains that he set up during Christmas. He loved spending time with his family and he will be missed dearly by everyone who knew him.

A service will be held at a later time due to the COVID pandemic.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.