Jack A Beekley

In Loving Memory Of
Jack A. Beekley

Jack Allen Beekley was born October 9, 1923, in Milford, Nebraska to Walter and Dorothy (Allen) Beekley and passed away Thursday, November 3, 2011, at the Friend Manor in Friend, Nebraska at the age of 88 years and 25 days. As a young man, Jack attended Country School District #25 in Seward County and later graduated from Dorchester High School in1941. Jack enlisted in the US Marine Corp in 1944 during World War II and served in the Pacific Theatre as a Marine scout sniper and after his discharge in 1946, he returned back to the farm which has been in the family for 130 years. On August 21, 1948, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Fridrich in Crete and to this union six children were born: Connie, twins Christine and Catherine, Kirk, Mark and Marcia. Jack farmed and also worked with Missouri Pacific and the Burlington Northern Railroads. He also was employed with Lauhoff Grain Company (Crete Mills), until his retirement in 1985. In his retirement, Jack collected antique barbed wire and he also enjoyed trap shooting, playing horseshoes, gardening and spending time in his basement woodworking. Jack was a long-time member of the Dorchester United Methodist Church where he served in various capacities over the years. He was active and served as president of the Seward County NFO, served on the Dorchester School Board and Dorchester Village Board, past commander of August-Vanek American Legion Post #264 in Dorchester, and member of the Izaak Walton League, the VFW #4959, Crete, and served on the executive board of the Grain Millers Union. Jack had a wonderful sense of humor, was hard working and had a great sense of loyalty and dedication to his family and country.
His family members include his wife, Dorothy; daughters, Connie LeMonde, and Catherine Beekley, both of Lincoln, Marcia Beekley, Dorchester; son, Kirk Beekley, Crete; eight grandchildren and spouses; Maj. Spencer and Maria Hansen, Lincoln, Brooks and Kate Riley, Omaha, Justyn Riley, Lincoln, Brandy and Kurt VanDeWalle, Ohiowa, Halley Beekley, Wichita, KS, Jennifer and William Determan, Cedar Falls, IA, Jacki and Aaron Eden, Ceresco, and Suzy Kaplan, Providence, RI; great-grandchildren, Madison Riley, Blake, Brett and Westley Determan, Raine Rittscher and McKenzie VanDeWalle; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ernie Fridrich, Camarillo, CA, Ken and Marge Fridrich, Tucson, AZ, Mary Ann and Lloyd Reiss, Crete, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Christine in 2008, son, Mark, 2010, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law, Helen and Ray Miller, Nell Fridrich, and parents-in-law, Ernest and Vlasta Fridrich.
A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at Dorchester United Methodist Church, with Revs. Tim and Ginny Adams officiating. Visitation is 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend, with the family receiving relatives and friends from 7-9pm at the funeral Home. A food and fellowship reception will follow services Tuesday in the fellowship hall of the church. Cremation following the services and inurnment will be held at a later date at Dorchester Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Dorchester United Methodist Church, American Legion Post #264, or to the Dorchester Foundation. Honorary Pallbearers are Spencer Hansen, Brooks and Justyn Riley, Jennifer Determan, Jacki Eden, Brandy VanDeWalle, Halley Beekley and Suzy Kaplan.