James J. “Jim” Beck, 94 years old, of Granville, IA, passed away on Monday, May 22, 2017, at Orange City Health System in Orange City, IA.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 26, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville with Rev. Terry Roder officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Granville. Graveside military honors will be conducted by The Granville Veterans. Visitation with family present will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at the church. There will be a rosary at 5 p.m. By the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters and vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. all at the church in Granville. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
Jim was born Feb. 23, 1923, at Remsen, IA, the son of A.M. & Regina (Wenner) Beck. He grew up in Remsen and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in 1940. He the attended Western Union (Westmar) College in LeMars, IA. He entered the United States Air Force on Jan. 21, 1943 and served in the South Pacific Theater from New Guinea to Tokyo, Japan across the street from the Emperors Palace. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 1, 1946.
On June 26, 1946 he married Peg Christensen at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. The couple operated a farm service store in Granville for over 30 years. Peg passed away March 14, 2003.
On Oct. 1, 2005 Jim married Ruth Van Bergen Keffeler. Ruth passed away May 18, 2010.
Jim was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Catholic Order of Foresters, Knights of Columbus and Veterans of Foreign Wars in Remsen.
Survivors include: his step daughter, Margie (George) Kersten of Hospers, IA, and their sons Richard (Niki) Kersten, Matt and his friend Julie; stepgrandchildren, Drew and Andrea Kersten; one sister-in-law, Ann Beck of Remsen; several nieces and nephews.
Preceded by: his parents, his wives, Peg and Ruth, brothers, Herb and Harry, one sister, Rita Martin.
Casket bearers will be Mike and Pat Beck, Steve and Frank and Tom Christensen and Shelly Savage.