Julie Anne Marie (Sartor) Beckman 1949 - 2007

BECKMAN, RECKER, SARTOR, BILLOCK, ROTH, OBERMEYER

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 8/3/2007 at 13:10:00

The Burlington Hawkeye, Friday, August 3, 2007

Julie Anne Beckman
Julie Anne Marie (Sartor) Beckman, 58, a long-time elementary teacher in Burlington, Iowa, died in a motorcycle accident in Earlham, Iowa, on July 31, 2007. She was married to life-long Burlington resident, David Beckman, 57, an attorney at Beckman and Hirsch, who was injured in the accident. Their 35th anniversary would have been August 19, 2007.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. John's Catholic Church, 700 Division St, Burlington, IA., at 10 a.m. Monday, August 6. Reverend Patrick Hilgendorf will officiate. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burlington. A Christian wake service will be held at St. John's Catholic Church at 3 p.m. Sunday following which the family will be present to greet friends until 6 p.m. Music will be provided by the Des Moines County Resurrection Choir.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Burlington Education Foundation and SS. John and Paul Catholic Church Music Fund in memory of Julie Beckman.

Julie Beckman was born January 29, 1949, to Dr. G. J. and Mrs. Luella Recker Sartor, in Mason City, Iowa. She graduated valedictorian from Newman High School, Mason City, in 1967; Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University, in Ames, 1971, Child Development; and a Masters degree, also in Child Development, from Iowa State University in Ames. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority at Iowa State and married David Beckman August 19, 1972 in Mason City, Iowa.

At 35, Julie was named Iowa State University's Outstanding Young Alum, an honor that recognized her academic career as an educator, as well as her music and dance contributions in Iowa and beyond.

Growing up, Julie was trained as a musician and dancer. In the mid-50's, she performed continually at programs, fairs and celebrations with her older sister, Mary Beth, as The Sartor Sisters. They appeared on The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour national television show and danced at special events honoring several Iowa politicians. In the 60's, she soloed frequently at the State Fair's Bill Riley show, often placing as a finalist. In college, Julie won the annual Varieties flash act competition. In 1969, she was Miss Mason City, won the talent award and was a runner-up to Miss Iowa. In 1970, she soloed on Arthur Godfrey's Your All-American College Show. Later, in Burlington, she started the Bill Riley Talent Search at Steamboat Days, which continued for many years. Into the 80's, Julie soloed several times at the Minnesota Dance Theatre in Minneapolis. Julie also enjoyed performing in Burlington productions and, of course, as the tapping Easter Bunny -- and other characters -- for her classes in the Burlington schools, where she taught kindergarten for most of her career.

Julie started her teaching career in 1972 in the Washington, Iowa, schools while David was in law school. Upon moving to Burlington, where David joined his father's and grandfather's law firm, she was Director at Messiah Lutheran Preschool; taught Kindergarten at Washington School; and taught Kindergarten at Burlington's Sunnyside School to the present day.

In 2000, Julie became Burlington's first National Board Certified Teacher. She was invited to present at the National Board Certified Teachers Conference in San Diego, CA. At her first national-level presentation she shared her techniques for using nonfiction literature in teaching reading, and the use of data to provide a basis for teaching. She also spoke on Iowa's Every Child Reads initiative.

Julie served as organist for decades at St. John's Catholic Church, where she was a member, often playing selections from her classical training, but also traditional hymns, with her husband as song leader and her children singing. She also played organ at numerous other Burlington churches. She and her husband also served as chairs to help plan the liturgy for St. John's services.

Throughout her life, Julie had constant energy and dedication to all of her interests, whether in music, church, dance or her career as an educator. Nothing, however, was more important to her than the thousand and more young children she taught, developing their talents and interests, encouraging and helping those with disabilities she encountered, and joyfully blending all into her community. In a newsletter to cousins, Julie included pictures of her family, of course, but stretched across the bottom of her page -- her current class of 25 kindergartners.

Always at the top were her own three children and husband, whose lives were never out of her consciousness. Julie is survived by two daughters and a son: Melinda, 27, (husband: Matt) Billock, Chicago; Laura, 24, Ames; Christopher, 21, Iowa City; and her husband, David, Burlington. Siblings include Celeste Sartor (husband: John) Roth, Le Claire, IA.; Mary Beth (husband: Thomas) Obermeyer, Minneapolis, MN; and Robert (wife: Nam) Sartor, Bettendorf, as well as many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and an enormous extended family that meets every Christmas. Her family is grateful for David and the community that encouraged and allowed her to blossom and contribute her talents and educational passions in a meaningful life. Her forever-fan, Leo, the family dog, will survive as well.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. G. J. Sartor, Mason City, and by a nephew, Mark Obermeyer, Los Angeles, CA.