George Becker, Jr.

BECKER, BECHTEL, KRUMME

Posted By: Ann Krumme (email)
Date: 10/28/2009 at 10:24:15

WAUKON RELATIVES ATTEND FUMNERAL AT DUBUQUE
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bechtel, this city, and Mr. and Mrs. Will Krumme and son Milton of Ludlow, motored to Dubuque Saturday a week ago, to attend the funeral of George Becker, Jr.

Deceased was the eldest son of George Becker, formerly of Ludlow, now residing at Dubuque. He was born in that city July 24, 1913. He attended St. Mary’s parochial school where he won a scholarship through Columbia academy from where he graduated in 1931. He was a great lover of nature and it was his wish since childhood to become a forest ranger and he was preparing to take up the study of forestry at the Iowa State college at Ames in the near future.

George was working on a farm near Dubuque and had been left in charge of the farm by his employer, Mr. Cousin, while the later and his family were in Dubuque, Wednesday. During the afternoon George and a friend were hunting specimens to use in their study of taxidermy. When they returned to the Cousin’s farm the friend went on to his home and George performed all the chores, but the milking. When Mr. Cousins returned home about 7:30 he found the lifeless body of the young man below the hay chute in the barn with two bullet holes in his forehead and with his gun, a 22 caliber Stevens rifle, across his lap. An investigation is being made by the coroner and sheriff to determine if possible whether it was suicide or foul play.

The funeral was held Saturday morning from St. Mary’s church, Rev. Jion conducted the services and spoke highly of the life and character of the young man. Four of his former professors from Columbia college paid silent tribute to the deceased by sitting on either side of the altar during the services.

Survivors are his parents, two brothers and four sisters, namely: Eldon, Lloyd, Evelyn, Lorain and Florence at home, and Elizabeth who is employed in the Internal Revenue department at Washington, D. C. She came as far as Chicago by airplane and from there to Dubuque by train.

From a scrapbook of Ella, Mrs. William Krumme, continued by her son, Milton Krumme. All articles were neatly clipped so I do not know what paper they were from.