Beckham, Verland J. – 1935-2009

BECKHAM, DOAK, DOP, GRANQUIST, ROBERTSON, SCHERBAUM, SLYCORD, WOODY

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 12/17/2009 at 18:37:24

Verland J. Beckham, 74, of rural Newton died of natural causes Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at his home in rural Newton.
A funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Russell officiating. The family will greet friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Wittemberg Cemetery in rural Newton.
Memorials to the Wittemberg Cemetery or Wittemberg Church may be left at the funeral home.
The son of James and Dorothy (Granquist) Beckham, Verland was born Jan. 8, 1935, in Newton. Verland graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1953 and attended Drake University. On June 6, 1954, he was united in marriage to Pat Doak at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. He was a masonry contractor, owning and operating Beckham Masonry Inc. from 1964 until he retired in 1997.
Verland attended the Wittemberg Church. He was a member of the Jasper County Contractors Association, Jasper County Museum and Genealogical Society. He was also on the Jasper County Cemetery Commission and was the Sexton of the Wittemberg Cemetery.
Verland enjoyed restoring antique cars and took pride in his house, yard, and shop. He also did genealogical work, and after he retired he restored tombstones at several cemeteries. He lived most of his life in Newton and rural Newton, but had also lived in Grinnell for a couple of years.
Survivors include his wife, Pat Beckham of rural Newton; two children Robert (Terry) Beckham of Baxter and David (Joyce) Beckham of Newton; four grandchildren, Kari Ann (Darin) Scherbaum of Cedar Rapids and Jared, Jonathan and Courtney Beckham of rural Newton; one great-granddaughter, Maddie Scherbaum of Cedar Rapids; a half-brother, Glenn J. Woody of Newton; a half-sister, Tootie Slycord of Newton; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a half-brother, Franklin Beckham; and two half-sisters, Elizabeth Robertson and Shirley Dop.
Source: Newton Daily News; Wednesday, December 9, 2009