Bekman, Elmer K., 1900-1976

BEKMAN, LUCAS, REDFIELD

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/3/2017 at 07:59:24

From the Ottumwa Courier, January 29, 1976:

OTTUMWA LAWYER DIES

Elmer K. Bekman, 75, of 232 E. Fifth, died today at 8:25 a.m. at Ottumwa Hospital where he had been a patient since October.

Born Aug. 18, 1900, in Alton, to John and Cornelia Lucas Bekman, he had lived in Ottumwa since 1923. He was admitted to the bar in 1923, graduating from the University of Iowa Law School. He was Wapello County attorney for six years, served in the Iowa Senate for 16 years and was a member of the Pioneer Lawmakers.

A second lieutenant in World War I, he was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church where he was an elder and Sunday school teacher for many years. He was also a member of the Iowa and Wapello County Bar Associations, a past president of the Wapello County Historical Society, member of Barracks 1510 of World War I Veterans, was a former trustee for Parsons College and a former board member of the Westminster Foundation in Iowa City.

He married Grace E. Redfield June 18, 1924 in Mason City. She survives as do one daughter, Louise Larew of Iowa City; three grandchildren; one brother, Richard K. Bekman of Mount Hermon, Calif.; and one sister, Dora Corbin of Ottumwa.

Services will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Louis Wollenberg officiating with burial in Ottumwa Cemetery. A memorial has been established payable to either the First United Presbyterian Church or the coronary care unit at Ottumwa Hospital. The Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

(The obituary includes a photograph.)

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From the Alton Democrat, February 4, 1976

Area Obituaries -- Elmer K. Bekman

Elmer K. Bekman, 75, of 232 E. 5th St., Ottumwa, Ia. and former Alton resident, died Thursday the 29th at the hospital there where he had been a patient since October with a lingering heart illness. He was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. John K. Bekman and spent his early childhood years here, graduating from the Alton high school. He was admitted to the bar in 1923, graduating from the University of Iowa law school and then moving to Ottumwa where he has since lived.

He was Wapello County Attorney for 6 years, served in the Iowa Senate for 16 years, 1939-1955, and was a member of the Pioneer Lawmakers. He was a 2nd Lt. in World War I; a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ottumwa where he served as an elder and Sunday School teacher for many years, serving also on other various boards in the community and area.

He married Grace E. Redfield in 1924 at Mason City. She survives as does one daughter, Louise, Mrs. R. E. Loreu [i.e., Larew] of Iowa City, and three grandchildren; one brother, Richard of Mt. Herman, Calif. and one sister, Dora Corbin of Ottumwa.

Services were Saturday the 31st at the Presbyterian church. Attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schuller accompanying Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Den Herder of Hull. They also called on their cousins, Dr. and Mrs. R. L. Corbin at the nursing home there.