WILLIAM L. BECKER, Jr. 1921-2003

WIDMAR, BECKER, DREXEL, MCGEOUGH, STIERMAN, KLOSER, MILLER, GOTTSCHALK, RANNALS, SCHWENDINGER, HIGH, DAVIES, WOODMAN

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 12/24/2003 at 20:04:03

William L. Becker, Jr.

Telegraph Herald - Oct 17, 2003

William L. Becker, Jr., 82, of 2600 Mesa Drive, died Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Home, 1640 Main St., where friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. today. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery.

He was born on April 30, 1921, in Dubuque, son of William and Bertha (Widmar) Becker, Sr. He married Pearl Drexel on Dec. 2, 1939, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubuque.

He attended Sacred Heart School. He served in the Navy during World War II.

Mr. Becker was a businessman in the local area and spent most of his working years as a stonemason. He was in a business partnership with his brothers. Some of his more noteworthy accomplishments were Wartburg Seminary; Dubuque Senior High School; New Melleray Abbey, including their altar; Westminster Presbyterian Church; Kennedy Mall; and many banks and other landmarks in Dubuque.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, woodworking and gardening.

He was a member of the Tri-State Community Church, Catholic Order of Foresters and a former member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Surviving are his wife, Pearl; four sons, David W. (Laurie K.) Becker, of Hazel Green, Wis., Richard J. Becker, of Peosta, Iowa, Randall T. (Deborah) Becker, of Marion, Iowa, and Jaymie A. Becker, of Mesa, Ariz.; a daughter, Sandra J. McGeough, of Naples, Fla.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; eight sisters, Marie Stierman, Delores (Joseph) Kloser, Joan Miller, Dorothy (Earl) Gottschalk and Lois Rannals, all of Dubuque, Eleanor Schwendinger, of Peosta, Evelyn (Harold) High, of Garrison, Texas, and Alice (Kenneth) Davies, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and two brothers, Harold (Dorothy) Becker and Roger (Darlene) Becker, both of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Roselyn Woodman; and a brother, Walter Becker.

A William L. Becker, Jr. Memorial Fund has been established.