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Mt. Vernon- Pastor Donald L. Beckman, 81, of Mt. Vernon formerly of Lincoln, passed away at 11:20 A.M. on Friday, December 6, 2013 at his home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois surrounded by family and cherished loved ones.

He was born on Tuesday, January 19, 1932 in Worthington, Minnesota, the son of the late Bernard and Rose (Webber) Beckman. He married Joan Ringle on Saturday, September 14, 1957 in Edgar, Wisconsin.

Surviving family members include his wife Joan Beckman of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; 3 daughters: Elizabeth Beckman and Greg Fuller of Lincoln; Katherine (Mark) Cushing of Champaign; and Christine (Tony) Pivirotto of Albuquerque, NM; 8 grandchildren: Christi, Amanda and Carson Cushing, Mallery Lutey, Brianna and Zachary Alvarez, Logan and Jordan Pivirotto; 1 great grandchild: Dawson Peratt; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, three brothers: Clarence, Elmer and Leon Beckman; one sister: Marian Krueger; two step sisters: Lois Dueschle and Lucille Anctil and one step brother: Harvey Gerdas preceded him in death.

Donald was a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church in Emden, Illinois, he attended Salem Lutheran Church in Salem, Illinois and he was a member of the Miller Lake Association. He was a Hunter Safety Instructor and Boater Safety Instructor for the State of Illinois. He enjoyed and was very talented carving wood duck decoys and donated them to charity.

Local services for Donald will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Emden with Rev. John Schurter conducting services. A visitation will be held from noon-1:30, also at the church. Burial will follow at New Union Cemetery in Lincoln. Memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church in Salem, IL, or to CASA of Jefferson County. Local arrangements were entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.