Harold W. Beck

Funeral Services for Harold W. Beck will be held on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Rev. Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr., officiating. Interment will be in the Oxford Cemetery at Oxford, Nebraska at 2:00 p.m. with Military Honors provided by the Oxford Veterans Organization and the United States Army National Guard Honors Team.

Harold William Beck, 80 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Monday, May 3, 2010 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. He was born on October 8, 1929 on the family farm northeast of Oxford in Harlan County, Nebraska, the second of three children of William F. and Elsa I. (Grosse) Beck. He received his education at Oxford Public School, graduating from the Oxford High School with the class of 1948.

Following his education, Harold was employed by the Burlington Railroad at the round house in Oxford. On July 13, 1951 he was inducted into the U.S. Army, serving his country during the Korean War in Washington D.C. at the Walter Reed Hospital, where he made prosthetics for the injured until his honorable discharge on July 13, 1953. He then transferred to the Army Reserves and continued to serve until July 12, 1959. Following his service, Harold returned home to Oxford and worked for Claussen, Olson and Benner on the irrigation ditch. He then worked for Larson Construction Company of Axtell, Nebraska, where he learned his trade of cabinet making.

On February 21, 1960 he was united in marriage to Barbara J. Kolves of Stamford, Nebraska at the Presbyterian Church in Stamford and to this union three sons were born: Kent Eugene, Keith Allen and Kurt Laverne.

The family made their home in Holdrege, where Harold was a skilled craftsman, working as a self-employed carpenter and specialized in finish work. He was a true handyman and could fix about anything. Later in years, Harold was employed by Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege, until his retirement in April of 1992. Harold and Barb celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in February of this year.

His hobby was wood working and had an interest in Boy Scouts, where he served as Scout Master for several years.

Harold was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege, where he served as head usher, deacon, trustee and elder. He was also active with the Prairie Schooners at the church, member of the Martin Horn American Legion Post #66 in Holdrege, receiving a 50 year pin and member of the area Parkinson's Association in Holdrege and Kearney, Nebraska.

Besides his parents, Harold was preceded in death by two sons: Keith in infancy and Kent in December of 1987; one brother, Ronald Beck and his wife, Malinda; fathers-in-law: Lawrence Kolves and Leo Tull; brother-in-law, Alva Miller; and niece, Lorna Beck.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Barbara of Holdrege; son, Kurt Beck and his wife, Wendi of Lincoln, Nebraska; three grandchildren: Austen, Hanna and Kylie Beck all of Lincoln; mother-in-law, Hazel Tull of Holdrege; sister, Eunice Miller of Alma, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Sharon Stevens and her husband, Paul of rural Orleans, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, American Cancer Society or to the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.