Fred William BEIER

BEIER, LENZ, LEIRAN, HANSON, HAEFNER, COOK, KALM, BUDLONG, THORSON, HANSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/18/2010 at 09:44:51

February 7, 2007
Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa

KANAWHA, IA — Fred W. Beier, 96, a longtime farmer and resident in the Kanawha area, died Monday (Feb. 5, 2007) at the Wright Medical Center Hospice Room in Clarion. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Kanawha United Methodist Church in Kanawha with the Rev. Cindy Morrison officiating. Interment with full military honors provided by the Klemme Area Military Funeral Unit will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. The family will greet friends from 9:30 to 10:30 am on Thursday prior to services at the church.

Fred William Beier, the son of Henry C. and Ida L. (Lenz) Beier, was born June 18, 1910, on his parent’s farm in Liberty Township, Hancock County, near Klemme. He was one of 11 children to bless this union. At an early age his family moved to Beltrami, Minn., where he began his education. They later returned to the Kanawha area, where Fred resumed his education in the Garner, Iowa, school system. In early adulthood, Fred followed his lifelong passion of music with his founding of the “Freddie Beier Orchestra.” As the orchestra’s leader, Fred played various saxophones and the group played for a number of years in venues throughout the region, including a regular schedule of appearances at the All Vets Club in Clear Lake. In October 1942, Fred enlisted full time in the United States Army and served in various foreign theatres and spent some time stationed in Alaska during his military tenure. He was honorably discharged as a captain in September 1946. Though he was not one to discuss much about his years in the service, Fred was always proud of this time in his life and carried this pride through as a member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars organization for the remainder of his life. Upon returning to civilian life, Fred was employed for a time at the John Deere Implement dealership in Kanawha, known today as Broshar’s Implement. Fred had lived for many years with his sister and her husband on the family farm and eventually took over it’s operation following his brother-in-law’s death. He received great joy in the working of the soil, the rewards of his labor of love of farming, and sharing in the wonders of the outdoors.

Though Fred was never married he always enjoyed times spent with the family, especially when they gathered for Sunday afternoons filled with food, fellowship, and of course a few competitive games of cards. Following retirement from the farm, Fred resided for many years at the Kanawha Community Apartments. He looked forward to daily meals at the “Talk of the Town” restaurant in Kanawha, spending time conversing and in the company of many friends. As the years went by, those who knew Fred’s daily routine always saw him strolling around the town on his daily walks which he truly enjoyed. He was also known to have done some woodworking from time to time and take an occasional fishing excursion. Fred became a resident of the Kanawha Community Home care facility in June 2006 and had resided there since that time.

Fred is survived by one sister, Helen Leiran, Crookston, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Carl and Elmer Beier; and sisters, Mabel Hanson, Esther Haefner, Ethel Cook, Ruth Kalm, Mildred Beier and Novella Budlong. Those wishing to send an expression of sympathy or memorial may direct them in care of Fred’s family to his nieces, Bev Thorson, 318 East Main St., Klemme, IA, 50449 or Joann Hansen, 1380 Nash St., Kanawha 50447. Funeral arrangements are with the Andrews Funeral Home