Beach, John William (1925-2007)

BEACH, DAVIS, BOHLKE, FLANNERY, WHITEAD, FITZPATRICK, VANVOORST, MARTIN, SANOW

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2008 at 21:30:50

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, September 4, 2007

John W. Beach, 81, of Le Mars, died Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars following a brief illness.

John William Beach was born Nov. 18, 1925, in Westfield, the son of John and Sadie (Davis) Beach. He attended school in Westfield and Brunsville. Following his education, John began working as a mechanic at various gas stations in the Le Mars area. On Sept. 17, 1949 John and Bettie Bohlke were united in marriage at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. He worked for many years at the Le Mars Truck Stop. For the past 15 years John worked part-time for the City of Le Mars Parks Department.

John enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was very proud of his children and their accomplishments. His dog Sam was his faithful companion. He also coached Little League Baseball when his children were younger. John was a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers fan.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Bettie of Le Mars; a son Dan and his wife Rhonda of Le Mars; son David and his wife Laurel of Sacramento, Calif.; a daughter Becki Flannery and her husband Joe of Hinton; a son Bill and his wife Mary of Le Mars; a daughter Barb Whitead and her husband Wes of Sioux City; and a son Brad and his wife Renee of Sioux City; grandchildren Beau and Betsy Beach, Chad, Corey and Sara Beach, Katy Fitzpatrick and her husband Dan, Kym and Kyle Beach, Nathan and Andrew Whitead, Brady, Alex and Conner Beach; two great-granddaughters Taylor and Bailey Beach; a sister Darlene VanVoorst of Le Mars; a special brother-in-law Ron Bohlke.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter Amy; two sisters Dorothy Martin and Jean Sanow; a brother Delbert Beach; and a brother-in-law Bob Bohlke.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today (Tuesday) at the Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home of Le Mars. The Rev. Jason Larson of the Le Mars United Methodist Church officiated. Burial was at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation began at 2 p.m. Monday at the Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home, with the family present to greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. There was also be one hour of visitation at the funeral home prior to the funeral.