Joel "Joe" M. Beckham, 69, of Decatur and formerly of Mt. Vernon died 7:59 a.m. Jan. 31, 1996, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

He retired in 1982 as a senior design engineer at Caterpillar Inc.

Mr. Beckham was born in Jefferson County, a son of Frank and Lillie (Martin) Beckham.

Sept. 17, 1949, he married Margie Peterson who survives.

Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Brintlinger’s Funeral Home, Decatur. Burial will be in Macon County Memorial Park in Harristown.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Brintlinger’s Funeral Home with rites by Elks Lodge 401 at 7 p.m.

Mr. Beckham is survived by his wife, Margie; one son, Mark; three daughters, Kimberly, Kelly and Lisa all of Decatur; a brother, Uhlan Beckham of Bonnie and five grandchildren.

He was a World War II Army Veteran and a member of Elks Lodge 401 in Decatur.

For those who wish memorials may be made to Decatur Memorial Hospital Hospice, Macon County Cancer Society or the Decatur Elks 401 for Crippled Children.

Source: The Register-News
Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co, IL
Date: Thursday, February 1, 1996 -Pg 2A
Submitted by: James E. and Louise (Beckham) Heidlebaugh