Edward A. Beckemeier - a man of many lives -- was born on Oct. 9th, 1925 in St. Louis, Mo. and was called home eternally on Sunday, Jan. 4th, 2015 at the age of 89 years.

His family was originally from the Plattdeutsch region of Germany and emigrated to the United Stated in the 1840's. They were carpenters, builders and farmers and the family roots go back to a small village called Tottenhausen in the Kaisermuehl (Kingsmill) region of northern Germany. In fact, the family farm still has a windmill on it to this day.

Ed's father also was a carpenter/builder in south St. Louis and his mother Edna was a homemaker. He was the oldest of four children. The family was an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church where Ed was baptized and confirmed. His schooling was in the elementary schools of St. Louis and he attended Cleveland High School. Because he enlisted in the U.S. Navy just after age 17 (1943) he did not quite finish high school before his military service - however he was able to receive a graduation certification, because of his military credits. During his high school years, Ed worked as a newspaper boy and primarily in a Pharmacy as a delivery person and a soda jerk. He always was involved in music and singing in choirs.

When he went into the Navy, they asked his work experience - he said he worked in a pharmacy, so he became a Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class. He served his country well - being one of the people attending to wounded and participated during landing campaigns - including Okinawa. His ship - on which he served the entire time - the U.S.S. LaGrange was the last ship in the U.S. navy to be attacked by kamikaze suicide bombers during the second world war . He had traded shifts in order to finish reading a book, while he was above deck reading, 21 men died and over 89 were wounded in the attack. As fate would have it, the man he traded shifts with died in the attack! He received an honorable discharge and also was the recipient of the Purple Heart.

After service to his country, he knew that he did not want to go into the building trade and went to college on the G.I. bill - first at Westminster College (site of Churchill's Iron Curtain' speech) and then the University of Missouri in Columbia. At Westminster he lived at the Beta Fraternity house until it burned down his freshman year. He and his friend Bob Friday hung from the top floor and had to slide out a window to be rescued (with only his shoes and a lamp! - all the clothes he bought with his navy pay were went up in flames. They were forced to live in a coal bin located in the basement of the School for the Deaf and Dumb for the rest of the college year.

He then transferred to U. Missouri, where he met Marilyn on a blind date arranged by her sorority sister. They were married in 1952 in Camp Point, Il. He didn't quite finish college (two credits short) because he was hired by Western Adjustment Bureau - as an insurance adjuster and claims specialist. This was the company he served well most of his life - going from Joliet, Il (where son William was born);to Galesburg, IL (son James); Des Moines, Iowa (son Andrew); Mt. Prospect, IL, Bay Valley, Ohio, Naperville, IL and then 4 years in London, England (Northwood/Middlesex area of Greater London). Ed always was able to meet and engage people - when he left Lloyds of London in 1981, he knew more than 2000 associates by name and was affectionately referred to as Big Ed. Lloyds even honored him with a farewell tea!

After London, he and Marilyn returned to the states. Bernardsville, N.J. was where he called home. Here he finished his career at GAB, working in the "Big Apple". Though most people would be looking forward to retirement, he was offered a new job working for Hudson International, a specialty engineering firm for big buildings. He gladly took on the new challenge. His extensive knowledge of buildings and assessments led him to a successful career there for many years (so, eventually, he did follow in his father's profession in a sense).

He retired at the age of 73 and after the extremely snowy winter of 1995-1996 was convinced to move to Florida - which they did in the fall of 1996, settling in Suntree. For almost twenty years, they enjoyed retirement, traveling, church (Faith Viera Lutheran), friends, golfing and fishing, volunteering at Town Square (Gift Shop), Wuesthoff Hospital, and taking food to Food Banks.

He also managed to confound many doctors along the way with his miraculous recoveries from major health issues. People claimed he had nine lives, but really he had one rich and fulfilling life!

Ed is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marilyn; his sons Bill (Norma) of Naperville Il., Lisa (Jim"s widow) of Dallas Tx. and Andy (Tina) of Koeln, Germany; sister Ruth Mawdsley of Tulsa, Ok. ; six grandchildren Kristine, Alex, Jason, Michael, Francis Belle , William Peers and two great grandchildren, Jayde and Mason.
He is predeceased by his brother David, his sister Lois, his son James in 2014 and his sister in law Betty Jo Lawless in 2014.

Inurnment of ashes will be private with family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Faith Viera Lutheran church, The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or any charity of your choice.