Becker, Henry J. 'Hank' 1925-2005

KINNEY, BECKER, HOSCH, MEEHAN, WAGNER, SMITH, LENZ, FITZGERALD, KING, FINK

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 1/26/2006 at 14:41:57

Henry “Hank” Becker

Henry James “Hank” Becker, age 80, of New Albin, Iowa, died Friday, December 23, 2005, after a courageous battle with cancer, with his family by his side at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, December 27, at St. Joseph’s Church in New Albin with Fr. Daniel Knipper officiating. Burial with military graveside rites followed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Thornburg Hanson Funeral Home of Lansing was in charge of arrangements.

Hank was born in Lansing, Iowa, March 25, 1925, to Henry and Margaret (Kinney) Becker.

He married Belva A. Hosch April 8, 1947, in New Albin. After serving in the US Navy from 1942 to 1946, he attended barber school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and graduated from Western Wisconsin Technical Institute in La Crosse, Wis., with a degree in accounting. Hank operated the Becker Barber Shop in New Albin for 23 years. He worked as an accounting clerk for Gateway Transportation of La Crosse and also served as the New Albin City Clerk, both for 23 years.

Hank was a lifetime member of Post #5603 of the VFW. He enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, fishing, and pheasant hunting. Hank was an avid New York Yankee and Iowa Hawkeye fan.

Survivors include his wife, Belva Becker of New Albin; two children, Robert (Nancy) Becker of Prairie du Chien, Wis., and Donna “Susie” (Daniel “Joe”) Meehan of Onalaska, Wis.; three granddaughters, Angela (Josh) Wagner of Wauzeka, Wis., Juli (Heath) Smith of Prairie du Chien, and Trina (Dwight) Lenz of Holmen, Wis.; two great-grandchildren, Derek and Alicia Lenz; one sister, Sister Rita Becker of St. Rose Convent in La Crosse; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Fitzgerald of Pensacola, Fla.; two brothers-in-law, Lee (Vivian) Hosch of New Albin and Don Hosch of Pensacola; and many nieces and nephews.

Hank was preceded in death by a brother, John Becker, and two sisters, Mary King and Margie Fink.

Casketbearers were Ray Whalen, Jake Imhoff, Robert Kasten, Norman Dresselhaus, Tom Schofield, and Jim Moore.

Waukon Standard, December 28, 2005