Gerald Arthur Beck

Gerald Arthur “Jerry” Beck, age 82 of Ontonagon, MI, passed away peacefully with his six children by his side, on Friday September 18, 2020.

Jerry was born on October 14, 1937 to Art and Irene (Waisanen) Beck in Ontonagon, MI. He grew up on the family homestead on Beck Road and began working the farm and in the woods alongside his father and grandfather at a young age. He attended the Beck School on the corner of Beck Road and Firesteel Road as a child, and later attended the Ontonagon Area School until the 12th grade. Jerry worked in the woods as a logger, in addition to driving truck over-the-road. He was a proud member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 324 where he operated heavy equipment and built roads in the Grayling and Quinnesec, Michigan areas, as well as others. Prior to his retirement, he drove quad axle dump truck for Reuben Turunen Contracting in Pelkie, MI.

Jerry was previously married to the former Beatrice Ark of Ontonagon, who preceded him in death.

On June 12, 1976, he married the love of his life, Vickie (Kleis) Mulder, and together they made their home on Beck Road in Ontonagon. Jerry and Vickie raised six children together, all of whom survive: Gina (Jeff) Rule, Lisa Mulder, Bob Mulder, Glen (Heather) Beck, Shelley Beck, and Kari (Chris) Ross. Jerry and Vickie instilled at a young age in their children the values of hard work, integrity, honesty, and most of all, the importance of family. Jerry’s 13 grandchildren, Ryan (Rachael) Kaiponen, Noah (Kinsey Weisinger) Rule, Whitney Rule, Austen Mulder, Bryce Paschke, Isaiah, Lauren, Logan and Kanin Beck, Adam and Wyatt Domitrovich, and Carly and Brielyn Ross; and two great-grandchildren, Jacen Mulder and Declan Paschke, were the light of his world. Jerry is also survived by his sister, Laurie Lou Juopperi of Hurley, WI, a sister-in-law Lynn (Clint) Reynolds of Edina, MN, and brother-in-law Roger Beeman of Ogden, UT, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

Jerry was preceded in death on May 23, 2019 by his loving wife of 43 years, Vickie; his parents and his younger brother, Glen R. Beck; his granddaughter Lauren Victoria Beck; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday September 25, 2020 at the Riverside Cemetery in Ontonagon. Funeral luncheon will take place at the VFW Post 5600 in Ontonagon at 1:00pm after the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the VFW Post 5600 in Ontonagon.

Jerry’s family wishes to extend their gratitude to the nurses, CENAs, therapy staff, and anyone who may have brightened his day in any way at the Aspirus Ontonagon Long Term Care Unit, and Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital. You are all angels.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gerald Arthur Beck, please visit our floral store.