Rev. Vincent Louis Beacom

BEACOM ALBENESIUS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/31/2010 at 18:17:02

Sioux City Journal
28 March 2010

SIOUX CITY -- The Rev. Vincent Louis Beacom of Sioux City went home to be with his heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. He was 98 years old, the oldest priest in the Sioux City Diocese.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Cathedral of the Epiphany Catholic Church, with Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless, Bishop of the Sioux City Diocese, officiating. Concelebrants will be Rev. John Beacom and Rev. Paul Albenesius, brother and nephew of Rev. Beacom; other priests of the Diocese of Sioux City and the Archdiocese of Omaha. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil and rosary at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Rev. Beacom was born on a farm near Jackson, Neb., to Louis Phillip and Anna Kramper (Albenesius) Beacom on July 14, 1911. He attended Brushy Bend grade school before graduating from St. Catherine's Academy in Jackson, Neb., in 1929. Rev. Beacom attended Trinity College in Sioux City and graduated in 1940 before entering St. Paul's Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Rev. Beacom was ordained a priest on April 23, 1944, by Bishop Heelan at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. He celebrated his first solemn Mass at St. Patrick's Church in Jackson, Neb., on April 24, 1944. Rev. Beacom was assigned to Corpus Christi Parish in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1944; Sacred Heart Parish in Pocahontas, Iowa, from 1944 to 1949; St. Patrick's Parish in Sheldon, Iowa, from 1949 to 1951; St. Mary's Parish in Remsen, Iowa, from 1951 to 1952; Sacred Heart Parish in Alvord/St. Mary's in Doon, Iowa, from 1952 to 1954; St. Mary's Parish in Spirit Lake, Iowa, from 1954 to 1958; St. Joseph's Parish in Lohrville, Iowa, from 1958 to 1960; Holy Family Parish in Lidderdale, Iowa, from 1960 to 1962; and Immaculate Conception Parish in Graettinger, Iowa, from 1962 to 1984. At Graettinger, Rev. Beacom built the parish center and a new rectory and at Spirit Lake, he built a new church.

Rev. Beacom retired in 1984 from his active life as a priest and bought a home on Lower Gar Lake near Okoboji, where he enjoyed fishing. Rev. Beacom enjoyed all sports especially hunting, fishing and golf and had many hobbies including photography, tying flies and woodwork. The Vikings and the Twins were his favorite pro teams but Heelan High School had his heart; boys and girls alike, he prayed for their success and followed every game. Rev. Beacom left his home on the lake and moved into Holy Spirit in Sioux City in November 2001, where he was able to enjoy time with his family and friends in the Sioux City area. Rev. Beacom felt blessed to do God's work for 65 years and was an Honorary 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. He had a wonderful sense of humor and touched the hearts of all he had the pleasure of knowing.

Rev. Beacom is survived by his brother, Rev. John Beacom of Dodge, Neb., who is the oldest priest in the Omaha Archdiocese; 18 nieces and nephews, with many great and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Rev. Beacom was preceded in death by his father, Louis Beacom; mother, Anna Beacom; two brothers, Joseph and Emmett Albenesius and spouses; and two sisters, Anna Marie Terharr and Helen Catherine (Ella) Kavanaugh and spouses.

Pallbearers will be Larry Albenesius, Joe Kavanaugh, Jim Kavanaugh, Michael Reimann, Russell Stout and Virgil Oligmueller.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Trinity Heights, Sioux City, or the Catholic Radio Station KFHC.