Michael James Becker 1958-2000

BECKER, MILBURN, ZEHENTNER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 10/4/2015 at 22:18:33

Michael James Becker, 42, of Andover, Minn., formerly of Dubuque, died Friday, May 12, 2000, at home following a courageous five-year battle with cancer.

A special memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the Dubuque Masonic Temple.

He was born May 8, 1958, in Quincy, Ill., son of Delores and Howard W. Becker.

He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1977. He married his childhood sweetheart, Barb Zehentner, of Dubuque.

In death as in life, Mike leads for those of us who follow. His leadership skills were honed at an early age as a member of the Order of DeMolay and was awarded the honor of Chevalier in 1978. His commitment to his community and to others was evident in his spirited participation in local Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons, in work for Camp Courageous, the Iowa Republican Party, and as a fundraiser for the Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He was successful in business as well, starting his own insurance agency in Dubuque, and later owning and operating several businesses while living in Minnesota. For the past several years he has been vice president of marketing for one of the largest Internet service providers in Minnesota, MinnNet.

He was a great father, very involved with his girls' lives. He enjoyed and excelled in coaching youth basketball and softball teams for his daughters. He was willing to take on any project; he was a member of two school boards and the director of their school play. We remember his high spirits and enthusiastic embrace of life's challenges. He had a great talent for making family and friends laugh out loud with his wit and sharp observations.

Surviving are his loving wife, Barb, and two daughters Jenny and Jessie, all of Andover, Minn. They will miss him dearly.

Also surviving are his mother, Delores Becker, of Dubuque, and his brothers, Robert Becker, of Dubuque, and Charles Becker, of Monticello, and his half-brother Jim Milburn, of Kansas City, Missouri, special friend, Don Gieseman, nieces and nephews, and his many friends. He was the beloved son-in-law, of Bob Sr. and Mary Rita Zehentner, both of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard, in 1970.

Memorials may be sent to the family for the children's education fund.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, May 14, 2000