John Beekman

A Celebration of Life for John Beekman will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Fillenwarth Beach Lobby. In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of John can be given to Lakes Regional Hospice.

John Charles Beekman, the son of Clarice (Stark) and Ross Beekman, was born October 14, 1932, in Sioux City, Iowa. He attended Oklahoma State University on a golf scholarship and continued his education at Morningside College and the University of Iowa Law School.

On July 28, 1956, he was married to Mary Anne Van Oosterhout in Wilmette, Illinois. The couple lived in a variety of places over the years, including Iowa City, Waterloo, Merrill, Spirit Lake, Sun City, Arizona, and ultimately in Okoboji, Iowa in 1990. Throughout his life, John was an entrepreneur, cattle rancher, attorney and retired as the Plymouth County Attorney and magistrate judge.

Once you met John, you were no longer a stranger. He had many interests and passions throughout his life. Whether it was pottery, being a pilot, scuba diving, skiing, playing tennis, tying fishing jigs or raising horses, John was always 100% in, eager to learn and enjoy. While John's first love was his wife and family, John’s second love was golf. He spent countless hours hitting balls, almost to the day he died. John also loved a good cup of coffee, a nice red wine and a good craft cocktail!

John passed away March 17, 2025, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Per John’s wishes, his body was donated to the Mayo Clinic for the purpose of research.

John is survived by his wife, Mary Beekman; children, Barb (Carl) Scoles, Lisa (Rick) Kraus, Dirk (Rebecca) Beekman, Dan (Lisa) Beekman and Bill Beekman; grandchildren, April (Mike) Ramsey, Amy (Ryan) Strempke, Brett (Brittany) Kraus, Tad (Brenda) Beekman, Ellie Beekman, Cody Beekman, Trevor Beekman, Eloise Beekman and Arlo Beekman; great-grandchildren, Dylan Ramsey, Liam Ramsey, Iyla Strempke, Ollie Kraus (and one on the way).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Clarice Beekman.