John Craig Beem

John Craig Beem was born on February 3, 1935, in Waterloo, IA, to Seth and Ella (Linius) Beem. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IA. John graduated from West Waterloo High School in 1953. He graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1957. John was united in marriage to Carla Karsten on August 4, 1957, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IA. The couple moved to Dubuque, IA, where John attended Wartburg Seminary and graduated in 1961. John was an intern in Clara City, MN, and began his pastoral ministry in Humboldt, IA. He then served other parishes in Muskegon Heights, MI, Dubuque, IA, and Oshkosh, WI. He became bishop of the East Central Wisconsin Synod in 1994 and retired in 2000. John and Carla moved to Alexandria where he continued doing interim ministry at various congregations. He was active as a leader in the formation of Living Word Lutheran Church, an LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) congregation. John loved teaching, especially Bible studies. John enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, building, gardening, chopping wood, and teaching many kids to water ski, and card games, especially bridge. He was active in Habitat for Humanity, the Sunrise Lions, and volunteered in the community in many ways. God bless the memory of John Beem, and well done my good and faithful servant. John died on Friday, December 26, 2014, at home surrounded by his loving family at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife, Carla of Miltona; children, Stephanie (Steve) Courts of Rochester, Jeffrey (Joanie) Beem of Omro, WI, Natalie (Kevin) Christian of Muskegon, MI, and Matthew Beem of Worthington, MN; grandchildren Jared Beem, Lucan and Cody Christian, and eight great grandchildren; sister Anne (Charles) Hesse of Iowa City, IA; and one niece and three nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, Seth and Ella. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at Living Word Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 30, 2014, from 4-7 PM with prayers at 6:45 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Memorials are preferred to either: Hospice of Douglas County - 725 Elm Street Suite 1200 Alexandria, MN 56308; Douglas County Habitat for Humanity - 1211 North Nokomis NE Alexandria, MN 56308; Lutheran World Relief - P.O. Box 17061 Baltimore, MD 21298-9832; or Living Word Lutheran Church - 1722 16th Ave E Alexandria, MN 56308

John Craig Beem

February 3, 1935 - December 26, 2014