Paul Henry Beekman

DAKOTA CITY -- Paul H. Beekman, 70, of Dakota City passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at a local hospital following a brief illness.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Harold Werley officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Paul was born on Jan. 20, 1942, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Hie Gerhardt and Anna Bernadine (Hienrichs) Beekman. His family farmed outside of Pocahontas, Iowa, where he grew up, attended school and later graduated from high school in 1960. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years. Following his honorable discharge from the service in 1964, he moved to Dakota City and had been a resident there ever since.
Paul was united in marriage to Susan K. Sheard on Dec. 17, 1966, at Grace United Methodist Church in Sioux City, and they were blessed with two children. Paul worked on construction during the time that I.B.P. was being built. After the completion of the plant, he was hired in the maintenance department. He stayed with I.B.P. (now Tyson) for 40 years until his retirement in 2004 as a maintenance supervisor.
He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. Paul enjoyed fishing and spending time with his grandkids, who lovingly called him "Papa Paul." He loved paddle-fishing and looked forward to boating, fishing and sitting around the campfire with his family at Lewis & Clark Lake in Yankton, S.D. Paul enjoyed snowmobiling with his son, brothers and nephews. He recently introduced his grandkids to his four-wheeler. He loved playing cards, especially Hand and Foot.
Paul was always tinkering in his shop or going to auctions and restored many stationary gas engines. He loved being outdoors and working in the garden. He also enjoyed collecting buffalo and even got to see the Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park this fall. In his retirement, he also enjoyed helping with the area farm harvest. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Susan Beekman of Dakota City; two children, Desiree (Mike) Troia of Omaha, Neb., and Chris (Jeanette) Beekman of Pierson, Iowa; five grandchildren, Jason Linton, Koby and Cameron Troia, Hannah and Emilee Beekman; five siblings, Joan Nessa of Webster City, Iowa, Carolyn (Carl) Day of Williams, Iowa, Richard Beekman of Kelley, Iowa, Dennis (Jeannette) Beekman and Al (Betty) Beekman, all of Dakota City; a sister-in-law, Delores Beekman of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jerry Beekman; and a brother-in-law, Roger Nessa.
Memorials will be donated to Paul's favorite charity.