Martin T. 'Butch' Beer, 01 Jul 1925 - 15 Sep 2021

BEER, BLUME, MENTE, TALBEE, DONNAVENT, REEVE, KINNEY, SANDERSFELD, MOLLISON, MEIER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 9/17/2021 at 14:07:49

Martin T. "Butch" Beer, 96, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, at Bird House hospice following a long illness.

Mr. Beer was born July 1, 1925, in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil, the son of missionary parents, the Rev. Otto H. Beer and Lena (Blume) Beer. After he entered the United States at age 5, he attended various parochial schools in Iowa and Illinois. He attended high school at Concordia College in St. Paul, Minn.

On March 23, 1944, Martin entered the U.S. Army. He served with the 63rd Infantry in Germany. He was wounded in January 1945, and back at the frontline on March 1, 1945. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, four campaign Ribbons and various other commendations and medals. He served in two campaigns with the 63rd Infantry until the war ended and afterwards in Germany until 1946,

Martin returned home and attended the University of Iowa from 1947-1951. There he met his wife, and on March 5, 1948, married Jo Mente. They had two sons and two daughters. Jo and Martin returned to Iowa City in 1954 and made their home there ever since.

Martin was a district manager with H&R Block for the last 30 years of his career. Martin was active in various civic organizations in Iowa City. He was very active in the 63rd Infantry Division Association serving two terms as the National President. He was a founding member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City. He served in many offices on the church council and twice on their building committee.

Martin is survived by his son Ted and wife Deborah; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandsons; his sister, Sylvia Talbee; sister, Lois Donnavent; and sister-in-law, Geraldine Reeve.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine Beer; infant son, Michael; his twin daughters, Cynthia Beer and Connie Kinney; son-in-law, Edwin Kinney; his brother, Herbert Beer; his sisters, Helen Sandersfeld, Paula Sandersfeld, Esther Sandersfeld and Norma Mollison; his sister-in-law, Genevieve Meier; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Mente.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City. Funeral services are Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery, also in Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be directed to The Birdhouse hospice or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Published by The Gazette on September 17, 2021.