Chelsea F. Beck

Chelsea F. Beck, age 87, of Maquoketa, Iowa, died Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at the Jackson County Public Hospital, Maquoketa, Iowa. A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at the United Methodist Church in Preston, with Pastor Karl Goodfellow as Officiant. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa. Friends may call from 5-8:00 p.m. Friday, September 23, at Miller-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Preston. Memorials may be made to the family in Chelsea’s name. Chelsea was born August 4, 1918 in rural Spragueville, Iowa to George F. (Sr.) and Arminda A. (Hagemann) Beck. Chelsea married Beulah J. Schultz on December 25, 1944. Beulah died on February 8, 1965. Chelsea married Frances L. Christoffersen on June 22, 1966. Frances died on August 20, 2004.
Chelsea worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad in Clinton, IA, retiring in October, 1965. He was also a farmer in Clinton County, and retired from agriculture in 1979. Chelsea enjoyed visiting with friends, traveling, dancing, and playing cards. He especially liked spending time with his grandchildren.
Chelsea will be deeply missed by his son, David C. Beck of Tampico, IL; one daughter, Diane (Cecil) Ritter of Blue Grass, IA; three step-sons, Art (Theresa) Christoffersen of Toddville, IA, Tom (Mona) Christoffersen of Maquoketa, IA, and Gary (Mariann) Christoffersen of Cape Coral, FL; one step-daughter, Mary (Dean) DeHaven of Delmar, IA; three brothers, George (Dorothy) Beck of Spragueville, IA, Ambrose (Carol) Beck of Goose Lake, IA, Robbert (Lenora) Beck of Sabula, IA; four sisters, Shirley (Allen) Felderman of Spragueville, IA, Joyce (Bud) McCartney of Byron, IL, Virginia Bees of Sun City West, AZ, Ruth (Leon) Specht of Hixton, WI; thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
Chelsea is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Beulah; his wife, Frances; an infant son, Ralph, and a step-son, Dean Christoffersen.