Speck DeByle, pillar of Rhinelander community, passes away at 92

The name Speck DeByle has been synonymous with downtown Rhinelander for decades. Most Rhinelander natives over a certain age can say they shopped at DeByle’s Clothing Store for back-to-school, work and play for years. 

DeWayne “Speck” DeByle, 92, passed away on Christmas Eve.

DeByle will be remembered as a pillar of the downtown community. Not only did DeByle own and operate the clothing store, but he also ran DeByle Real Estate, and managed many downtown properties. He worked to help revitalize downtown, but his work in the community did not stop there.

His accomplishments were many and ran deep through the area. One of those accomplishments was helping to make the Hodag Sports Club what it is today. 

In an interview several years ago with the Northwoods River News, Virgil Davis recounted the day DeByle and Jim Birginal came to the club and asked, “Can we shoot?”  When DeByle joined the club, he found that the club leased eight acres of land and was concerned what might happen to the facility if the lessor decided they no longer wanted the club to operate there. 

That soon turned into DeByle financing the purchase of 40 acres on County Highway C, east of Rhinelander, where the club still stands today. The club sold a house that was on part of the land — paying for the property and then some. From there the Hodag Sports Club continued to grow, now encompassing hundreds of acres that are open to the public.

A celebration of DeByle’s life is planned from 1 to 4 p.m.,  today, Dec. 30, at Rhinelander’s Carlson Funeral Home.

See Friday’s Northwoods River News and Lakeland Times for more on the life and accomplishments of DeWayne “Speck” DeByle.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].