Obituary of Arnold J. Beck

Arnold James Beck “Jim” passed away early Sunday, March 29th, 2009 due to heart failure. Services to celebrate Jim’s life will be held on at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 2nd at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 3 to 6pm Wednesday, April 1st, at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made in Jim’s memory to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Jim was born on July 4th, 1940, in Belle Plaine, Iowa the son of Burdette A. and Johanna T. (Koch) Beck. Following graduation from high school in Belle Plaine, he attended and graduated from Iowa State University in Ames. For twenty seven years Jim worked at Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale, Iowa from 1975-2002. Of his many accomplishments in life, Jim was most proud of his work towards raising money for eye research through eye glass donations. Jim collected over 10,000 pair of eye glasses in his effort to raise money. Also throughout the years he helped care for over 32 foster children. Jim’s family includes his wife, Jackie; 5 sons, Steve (Susan) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Brian (Joan) from Virginia, Jeff (Marjorie) from Tennesee, Ron from Iowa City, Iowa and John (Damaris) from Switzerland; 2 daughters, Jenni Beck and Sara Kaiser both from Iowa City, Iowa; 13 grandchildren, Jonathan, Joshua, Megan, Justin, Emily, Eleanor, Ryan, Samuel, Daniel, Lucas, Alexandra, Christie, and Emma. Jim is also survived by his brother Don (Ruth) Beck of Hedrick, Iowa, and 2 sisters, Lillian (Louis) Winslow of Belle Plaine, Iowa and Virgina Clarahan of Bloomington, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Catherine in infancy and Mary Fosse; and one brother, Bob Beck. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Jim’s family and his services.