Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

 

BEACH

Betancourt

Gardow

Hammer

Hines

Klink

Rafferty

Zell

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE – August 22, 1999

John M. Beach

Sept. 6, 1923 - Aug. 19, 1999

John M. Beach, 75, of Granger, Ind., passed away at 6:23 a.m. on Thursday morning, Aug. 19, in Hospice House of South Bend, Ind., after an extended illness.

He was born on Sept. 6, 1923, in Eau Claire, Wis., to John M. and Dorothy (Klink) Beach. On June 17, 1946, in Eau Claire, he married Darlene Zell, who survives along with his daughter, Nancy Rafferty (John) of Fishers, Ind.; two sons, Mark S. Beach of Parma, Ohio, and Michael J. Beach of Golden Valley, Minn.; six grandchildren, Karen Betancourt of Danville, Ill., Jason Hines of Carmel, Ind., Matthew and Trevor Beach of Brookville, Ohio, and John and Dan Beach of Golden Valley, Minn.; and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his two sisters, Lois Gardow of Altoona, Wis., and Audrey Hammer of Clear Lake, Wis.

Mr. Beach retired from IBM after 21 years of service in the marketing department. He graduated from Altoona High School and received his degree in accounting from Marquette University. He proudly served in the United States Army during World War II in the 531st Engineer Shore Regiment 1st Special Brigade and participated in the D-Day invasion onto Utah Beach. He was active in the Alex Coquillard Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a member of the American Legion.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, in the Historical Fort Snelling Chapel, Highways 5 and 55, Minneapolis, Minn., with the Rev. James Thunstrom officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th St., Minneapolis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson Foundation, 1501 North West 9th Ave., Miami, Fla., 33136.

There will be no local services or visitation. Welsheimer Funeral Home is handling local arrangements.