Herman Van Beckum
Herman L. Van Beckum, 101, Green Bay resident, passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at his home. He was born September 5, 1922, in Green Bay to the late Charles and Theodora (Raymakers) Van Beckum. Herman graduated from Green Bay East High School and joined the U.S. Army on November 5, 1942, serving until his honorable discharge on January 11, 1946. He served as Staff Sergeant in Company C 264th Medical Battalion in the Pacific Theater, receiving numerous citations for his service. Upon arriving home, he married the former Felicia “Fuzzy” Kwaterski on August 31, 1946, at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church. She preceded him in death on February 22, 2006.
Herman was employed as a carpenter throughout his life, finishing his career with the Roland Murphy Construction Company where he was employed for over 30 years. He was a man of faith and lived it every day. “Hermie” as everyone knew him, was a fixture at St. Mary of the Angels. He was a lay distributor, an usher and served for countless Masses. Hermie worked at the school Roller Rink from the day it opened, eventually becoming the rink manager. He assisted with any parish activities he was asked to and even when he wasn’t. Hermie was a longtime volunteer at the Weidner Center and enjoyed parking cars for the Packers for many years.
Herman is survived by three sons: Michael (Lynn) Van Beckum; James (Carol) Van Beckum and Donald (Faye) Van Beckum; one daughter, Mary (Thomas) Kempen; 11 grandchildren: Jonathan (Janean) Van Beckum; Stephanie (COL Kevin J.) McCullagh; Steven (Natasha) Van Beckum; Randall (Candie) Van Beckum; CPT Kailyn (MAJ Paul) Anderson; CPT Samuel (Lauren)Van Beckum; Patrick (Lara) Kempen; Joseph (Joy) Kempen; LTC Benjamin (Kendra) Kempen; Casey (Natoshia) Wawiorka and Toni (Greg) Boguslawski; 22 great grandchildren: Liam, Jack, Cassidy, Justin (Katie), Kyle, Logan, Megan, Morgan, Jeffrey, Tyler (Fiancé Layna), Cassidy, Arya, Emma, Maximus, Eva, Callaway, Ryder, Avery, Aubrey, Sophie, Kyle and Isaac; two great-great grandchildren, Levi and Lincoln; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Van Beckum and Nancy Kwaterski; brother-in-law, Dr. Mitchell (Carol) Kwaterski; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Clarence; three sisters: Eleanor (Dr. Robert) VandenBranden; Mildred (Charles) Alderman and Gladys Van Beckum; 9 brothers-in-law and 10 sisters-in-law: Agnes (Meredith) Nielsen; Beatrice Kwaterski; Celestine (Paul) Bickel; Dr. Dominic (Patricia) Kwaterski; Edmund (Garnet) Kwaterski; Genevieve (Raymond) Hoepfner; Helen (Cletus) Pierquet; Isidore (Carol) Kwaterski; John Kwaterski; Kathleen (Richard) Hujet and Sr. Louise Kwaterski.
Friends may call at the Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St. from 4:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, January 11, a parish wake service will conclude the evening at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue on Friday at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, 650 S. Irwin Ave., from 10:00-11:15 am. Funeral Mass 11:30 am on Friday at the church with Fr. Finian Zaucha OFM officiating. Entombment in the Nicolet Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be sent to the Van Beckum family at www.prokowall.com. In lieu of floral expressions a memorial fund has been established in his name.
Herman’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Emerald Bay who took such wonderful care of him and the nurses and staff of Unity Hospice.