Dr. Robert Anthony Beecher, DVM

BEECHER

Posted By: Kenneth Wright (email)
Date: 11/13/2018 at 09:08:00

Dr. Robert Anthony Beecher, DVM

Comes a horseman....Doc was born in Dubuque, IA on September 15, 1942. He attended Holy Ghost Elementary School, St. Columbkille's High School and graduated from Wahlert High School. He competed in Boys State in 1959. He attended Loras College in 1961 before graduating from Iowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1966, cementing a lifelong enthusiasm for all animals, especially the Arabian horse - beautiful, graceful, and intelligent, the very epitome of endurance. "There is no day which seems so wrong that spending time with our Arabs can't make right."

He moved to Cascade, IA to join Meloy and White Veterinary practice in 1966. He became partners with life-long friend Dr. Tom White. Later it became White, Beecher & Jedlicka. He bought his first Arabian horse in 1969 and with Bob Kurt and Jerry Volk and their spouses, forming EttNorMar Arabians, a 30-head Arabian horse stable.

He helped establish endurance and competitive distance riding in the Midwest, judging his first endurance horse race in 1972. In 1979, he was named the chair of the endurance and competitive division of the International Arabian Horse Association, a position he held for 8 years. He served as the first club president of Arabian Horse Distance Riding Association and president of the Upper Midwest Endurance and Competitive Riding Association. In 1986, he judged his first Championship Endurance ride. He traveled to Dubai, France and Spain to judge international events. In addition, he became a prestigious Federation Equestre Internationale judge with the United States Equestrian Federation, Endurance Committee.

He began to incorporate chiropractic techniques in his work on horses in 1997 after completing course work at Chiropractic Options for Animals in Port Byron, Ill in 1997. He was named Iowa Horse Council Horseman of the Year in 2004. The Shining Light award was named in his honor in 2013.

He served his community as a member of the Cascade City Council for 18 years and the Dubuque County Board of Health for 10 years. He incorporated Beecher Management in 1985, joining Coohey Farms, a 2,000 farrow to finish hog farm, that same year. He was instrumental in building Cascade Lanes and with partner and long term friend, John Sturm, built community medical clinics in Cascade and Hanover, Ill. He served on the veterinary team for the Dubuque County Fair and for 4-H Horse Pony Camp for a number of years, and loved local trail rides. He eventually opened his own horse practice, Beecher Equine Services, and moved to St. Donatus, IA in 2007. Never one to Burn Daylight, he didn't work a day, loving what he did. He finally retired from active practice in 2013.

Doc is survived by three children, Lara (Michael) Fisher, Laguna Niguel, CA; Russell (Paula) Beecher, West Des Moines, IA; Caitlyn (Todd) Ramaeker, Milan, IL.; two step-children Carey (Ben) Hosch, Cascade, IA, and Casey Gile, Cascade, IA, three grandchildren, five step grandchildren, his brother DeWayne Beecher (MaryJo Pancratz), his sister Paula Behr (Rich Behr), and the mothers of his children Etta Marie Sassen Beecher and Jan Ehlinger Beecher.

He was preceded in death by his parents Albert "Buck" Beecher and Evelyn "Evie" Steil Beecher.

Team Beecher would like to thank Paula & Rich Behr, Lisa Flanagan, Lynnette Heims, Karon Roeth, Laura Murphy, Olivia Flanagan, Rose Mellenberger, Alexandra Booth, Laura Thole, Maria Valdez, Brad Ferguson, Bridget Ferguson and Michelle Croft for their care of Dad and for showing True Grit while enjoying countless hours of Westerns. We would also like to thank Above and Beyond Hospice team for their exceptional care.

Doc asked that in lieu of flowers donation be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or Iowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

The cowboy rides away.... Doc passed away on November 11, at the age of 76 at his home, in Dubuque, Iowa. Friends may call from 2-8 pm, on November 13, 2018 at Reiff Funeral Home, 205 Hayes St, Cascade, IA where a Celebration of Life will be held at 4 pm. Per Doc's wishes, a private Inurnment will take place at Dubuque Memorial Gardens.