John "Jack" Burgess Beckman

Cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, John Burgess Beckman (Jack), died peacefully at home Tuesday afternoon August 9th, 2016, in St. George, UT after a long fight with multiple health conditions. One of the “Greatest Generation,” Jack was the only child of Marion (Burgess) and Hollis Beckman and was born October 4, 1925, in Lancaster, PA. The family moved to Rockford, Illinois where he was raised. He attended St. John’s Military Academy, WI during his high school years but graduated from East High School in Rockford, IL in 1944. It was during his high school years that he met the love of his life, Norma Bloom. Following graduation, he went into the Navy and served aboard one of the "Mighty Midgets" the LCS 68, where he was a Petty Officer, Third Class. Participating in the Invasion of Okinawa, his ship was one of the first ships to enter Yokohama, Japan after the war ended. Upon the completion of the war, he returned to Rockford where he and Norma were married August 16th, 1946 in The Old Stone Church at Rockton, IL. Following their wedding, Norma and Jack both attended the University of Wyoming. After their college years, the couple returned to Rockford where Jack worked in the insurance business. To this union, a son, Thomas, was born in 1949 and a daughter, Johnath, was born in 1951. In 1969, Jack and Norma moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL where they ran a seasonal fruit shipping business and to Phippsburg, CO where they summered yearling cattle on their beloved mountain ranch. Retiring from both of these occupations by 1993, Norma and Jack bought a home in St. George, UT where they have resided ever since. At the time of Jack's passing, the couple looked forward to celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary in seven days. Jack will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved to travel, making friends everywhere he went. He is survived by and grateful for having shared his life with: his wife, Norma of almost 70 years, son Tom (Dayna) of Sandy, UT and daughter, Johny Weber of Timber Lake, SD; grandchildren: Amanda Weber, of Eagle Butte, SD and Shane (Cathy) Weber of Taylor, ND; Amy Reeves, and Patrick Beckman, both of Sandy, UT; great-grandchildren: Anthony and Aiden Reeves, Sandy, UT, Jewel and Justice Weber, and Luis Torres, of Eagle Butte, SD, and Reid Weber, Taylor, ND. Jack was preceded in death by: his son-in-law Jeff Weber. In lieu of a funeral, an open house for friends and family to share remembrances will be held at the Beckman residence in St. George, UT on Sunday August 14, from 1:30 to 4 pm. Burial will be in Timber Lake, SD at a later date.

John "Jack" Burgess Beckman

September 4, 1925 - August 9, 2016