Dean Beecher

Dean Ervin Beecher was born April 3, 1928, the son of Charles S. and Lizzie (Marsch) Beecher in Scotland, South Dakota, and passed away Thursday, April 22, 2010, at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dean's family moved to Anita when he was in the 5th grade. He graduated from the Anita High School in 1946. Dean was married to Imo Irene Emgarten on February 6, 1982, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Adair. The couple lived on the farm by Anita until 1995 when they moved to their current home in Atlantic.

Dean entered the army following graduation from high school. After his discharge he was employed by the Rock Island Railroad as a lineman until his retirement. He also worked at Cass Inc. and JRI during his retirement.

He was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Anita and the Anita American Legion Post # 210.
Dean will be remembered as an extremely shy, quiet man who dearly loved his family. He had the patience of Job and never complained about anything. Dean loved the outdoors; fishing, camping or bird watching. He also enjoyed wood working, eager to share his creations with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Patti Flander; his brother, Ivan Beecher; his sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Jesse Frisbie; and his great- granddaughter, Emma Grace Clark.

Survivors include his wife, Imo Beecher of Atlantic; his daughter, Peggy Clark and her husband, Randy of Atlantic, Iowa, and his son Rodney Conrad and his wife Alicia of Aransas Pass, Texas; his son-in-law, Jim Flander of Pleasantville, Iowa; his grandchildren, Carla Petersen of Atlantic, Iowa, Dennis (Shanna) Cockayne of Des Moines, Iowa, Becky (Cyril) Buzek of Houston, Texas, Shelly Crane of Brooklyn, Iowa, Jimmy Newlin of Texas, Tina (Kate) Fessler of Des Moines, Iowa, Samantha Clark of Atlantic, Iowa, and Arthur (Sarah Sorum) Clark of Atlantic, Iowa; many great-grandchildren and great- great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 26, 2010, at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2010, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. also at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.