Beggs, Francis J.

Francis J. Beggs, 84, of Cedar Rapids and formerly of Vinton, died Sunday, June 26, 2011 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton with Rev. Karen Larson officiating. Friends may call at Phillips Family Center, 605 Second Ave. in Vinton from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Private committal services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established.

Francis was born Aug. 17, 1926 at Keosauqua to Otto David and Lulu (Hughes) Beggs. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 17. Following graduation in 1944, he was called to active duty during World War II and was a member of the first Occupation Forces in Japan with the 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group, attaining the rank of sergeant.

On May 14, 1950, he was united in marriage to Donna Johnston in the Methodist Chapel at Fairfield. Their first months together were interrupted by a recall to active duty. As a member of the Inactive Reserves, Francis was ordered to report in August of that year to Wyoming during the Korean War. He was later stationed in St. Louis.

At age 24, Francis became Iowa's youngest state elected official, as Auditor of Van Buren County. For over 40 years he was an abstracter in Keosauqua, Adel and Vinton. During his business career, he served as president of the Iowa Land Title Association from 1974 to 1975, served on the Iowa Land Title Association Standards Committee and helped set the basis for most of the current Title Standards in Iowa. Francis had served as president of the Adel Rotary Club and the Vinton Lions Club. He was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city of Vinton, served for 23 years on the Evergreen Cemetery Board, and served for nine years on the Virginia Gay Hospital Board, and was chair during the initiation of the Cedar View Project. As a member of Wesley United Methodist Church he served as chairman of the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee. Francis enjoyed membership at the Vinton Country Club and was an avid golfer.

Francis is survived by his wife, Donna of Cedar Rapids; his son, Bradley and wife, Allison of New Hudson, Mich.; his daughter, Theresa Juhl and husband, Chuck of Center Point; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Davis and husband, Jason of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Michelle McCann and husband, Daniel of York, Neb.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant son, John Matthew Beggs; and his brother, Dale Beggs.

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