Wayne Carl Beckman

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Wayne Carl Beckman, age 88, passed away on Friday, July 1, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Wayne was born on Nov. 29, 1933. He lived in Ironwood his entire life attending local schools and playing high school baseball for Coach Jack Kraemer.

He joined the U.S. Navy in November 1951, and proudly served his country as a radar man aboard the USS Moale during the Korean War. He was awarded the National Defense, Korean Service, United Nations and Navy Occupation Service medals. He was honorably discharged in September 1954. He was always quick to say that he sailed around the world before his 18th birthday.

After his service in the Navy, Wayne returned to Ironwood where he met and fell in love with Bonita Bednar. They were married on Feb. 15, 1958, and together, he and Bunny raised four children, Wayne J. (Julie) Beckman, Greenfield, Wisconsin, Bruce (Paula) Beckman, DeWitt, Neil (Pam) Beckman, Ironwood, and Cheryl (Mark) Larson, Ashland, Wisconsin.

Wayne was the proud grandfather of: Sean (Jenn) Beckman, Saranac, Alison (Kyle) Smith, DeWitt, Ashley (Alex) Hill, Ashland, and Stephanie (fiancé Johnny), Michael and Nicole Beckman, all of Greenfield; and great-grandpa to: Nora Smith, Connor Smith and newborn, Scarlett Hill.

Along with his devoted wife and children, Wayne is survived by brothers, David (Barb) Beckman, Ironwood, and Randy (Marge) Swanbeck, Wakefield; sisters, Darlene Kirk, Payson, Arizona, and Gayle Swanbeck, Tucson, Arizona; his sisters-in-law, Belva DeRosso, Hurley, Wisconsin, Joyce Young, Minocqua, Wisconsin; and Linda Beckman, New Prague, Minnesota; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Carl (Pauline) Beckman; his mother, Helen (Barney) Swanbeck; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joe and Dorothy Bednar; brothers, Dan Beckman and Jim (Ann) Beckman; sisters, Joy (Eppi) Johnson and Cindy Kallins; and his brothers-in-law, Brian Bednar and Boris Kirk.

Wayne was a lifetime member of the American Legion.

Dad loved his family and sports. Rarely did he miss his kids' or grandkids' extracurricular activities. The Wolverines, Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings gave him great joy over the years, but obviously not the Lions.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 9, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 W. Midland Ave., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Nicole Hanson-Lynn officiating. Following the service, military rites will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.

Private interment will take place at the Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the Ironwood VA, Northwest Wisconsin Cancer Center of Memorial Medical Center, his home health aides and all of the Aspirus hospice nurses.

The family requests those who wish to express their condolences to consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society or Northwest Wisconsin Cancer Center in Wayne's name.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.

We're going to miss you Dad. Thanks for everything.