Beckman, William 1912-1952

BECKMAN, GERDES

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/2/2015 at 15:21:07

Note: His mother's maiden name was Gerdes.

AKRON MAN KILLED WHIE AT WORK IN SOUTH AMERICA

Dynamite Blast Fatal To Wm. G. Beckman; Rites Here Today

The sad and shocking news was received in a phone message to relatives here Saturday of the accidental death of William G. Beckman, 39, son of Mrs. Mary Beckman, on Friday by an explosion of dynamite while he was employed as a drag-line operator on a construction project in Venezuela, South America. It is understood a road was being built through the mountains and his machine struck a charge of explosive used in blasting out rock. His body was brought to this country by plane, arriving at the Sioux City airport-yesterday.

Funeral services are being held at Trinity Lutheran Church this (Thursday) afternoon, Rev. J. A. Pannkuk officiating. Interment takes place in Riverside Cemetery.

Mr. Beckman was born November 26, 1912, in Sioux County and had lived in or near Akron for a large part of his life before 1940. In 1941, he went to South America where he worked on the Pan-American highway project for four years. He went to Guam in 1948 and in 1950 and 1951 he worked for the navy department on Alaskan construction projects. He went to Venezuela last June.

Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Mary Beckman, of Akron; three brothers, Henry, of Chicago; Fred, of Sioux City; and Herman. of Akron; and five sisters, Mrs. Clarence Knorr, of Windom, Minn.; Mrs. Emery Beeler, of Wibaux, Mont.; Mrs. Harry Hartman, of Alcester, S.D.; Mrs. Iver Pollock, of Akron, and Mrs. Roy Calhoon, of Le Mars, Iowa.

The entire community extends heartfelt sympathy to the mother, sisters, brothers, and other relatives in their bereavement.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, October 9, 1952
Akron, Iowa