BEAM, Burl Byron (1920-2020)

BEAM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/4/2020 at 11:50:26

Burl Byron Beam
(September 4, 1920 - March 29, 2020)

Burl Byron Beam, 99, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2020, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Due to Federal and State regulations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be private but you may join into our Facebook Live Feed starting at 1 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2020. Burial will be in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Burl Byron Beam, 99, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2020, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Due to Federal and State regulations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be private but you may join into our Facebook Live Feed starting at 1 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2020. Burial will be in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Burl Byron Beam was born September 4, 1920 in Martensdale IA. He was one of four sons born to Walter Henry and Katie Ruth Beam (Darling). In 2018 he sold the family residence and moved to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.
Burl had special ties to Martensdale, since his father, Walter helped co-found the town in 1913 along with John F. Martens, L. F. Hiatt and Wm. Buxton Jr. His passing marks a notable loss for the community in that he was the last member of the pioneer family to reside in Martensdale.
In 1942 when he was a senior at Simpson College, Burl enlisted in the Army Air Corps (later the U.S. Air Force). He was not called up until 1943. For his training Burl was sent to several locations including St. Louis, Phoenix and Santa Ana CA. He learned to fly the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and achieved the rank of second lieutenant. By the time he returned from England he had completed 35 missions over Germany. He received numerous honors including the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, A World War II Victory Medal and the ETO Ribbon.
Although Burl had deferred his studies during the war, Simpson College did not make him return to the program, but awarded him a bachelor's degree. His educational endeavors continued under the GI Bill and he received his Master’s Degree in Music Education at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln as well as studying languages at Mexico City College.
In the 1950s Burl spent a number of years as an administrator overseeing the building of runways at the United States Air Force base in Thule, Greenland. When he returned to Iowa, Burl took an administrative job with the Iowa House of Representatives, eventually becoming the assistant chief clerk of the House. In addition, he and his brother George owned farm land in Madison and Warren Counties. They worked side by side in harmony for decades, eventually retiring in the late 1980s.
Burl was an active woodworking enthusiast, making and repairing items for family and friends alike. A prolific writer of “letters to the editor,” friends often said of Burl that he had an opinion about everything.
In 2009 Burl participated in an Honor Flight to Washington DC to view the National World War II Memorial. Several years later he donated his Eisenhower style jacket, complete with wings pinned to the lapel, to the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge. A lifelong bachelor, Burl felt this prized possession should be kept safe after he was gone.
Burl is survived by nieces Patrice K. Beam of Des Moines, Pamela Beam of Hunt Valley, Maryland, a nephew, Kenton Beam (Jan) of Des Moines, great nieces Jessica Cloyed of Des Moines, Merissa Beam of Elyria, Ohio, Erin Massman (Don) of Indianola, Heather Warner of Baldwin, Maryland, great nephew Justin Beam of Des Moines, a great-great niece Cali Mae Cloyed of Des Moines and great-great nephews Johnny & Nathan Law of Elyria, Ohio.
Burl was preceded in death by his brothers George, Charles and Max Beam, a niece Nanci Mcgrane and nephews Meredith "Chuck" and Barry Beam.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Martensdale/St Marys Community High School Athletic Department, in his name.
This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/