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Francis Becker
FRANCIS JAMES BECKER
Hiawatha
Francis James Becker, 87, of Hiawatha, formerly of Norway, Iowa, passed away Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at Manor Care in Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday with a rosary to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Hiawatha, with visitation one hour before Mass. Burial with military honors will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at St. Michael's Cemetery, Norway.
Francis was born Aug. 16, 1931, the son of Frank and Marjorie (McLaughlin) Becker. After graduating high school, Francis served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Francis married Helen Leibold on May 2, 1959, at Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids. He was a farmer all of his life, but he also worked at Collins Radio for five years. Francis was a member of the American Legion Post No. 234 in Norway, Catholic Foresters, and a former member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Norway.
Francis was a master at repairing anything. He loved music, especially, Lawrence Welk. He also loved square dancing with his wife. Francis enjoyed feeding and watching the birds in their yard. He and Helen adventured out on bus trips for 14 years during their retirement. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Francis will be remembered as his family's hero. He was a kind, compassionate, and respectful man who always made it a point to make people smile.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Becker of Hiawatha; children, Teresa (Tom) Wille of Hiawatha, Denise (Tony) Van Otegham of Victor and David Becker of Cedar Rapids; daughter-in-law, Jane Becker of Evansville, Ind.; grandchildren, Austin Wille, MacKenzie (Jake) McKain, Mallory (Kase) Stolte, Evan and Wade Van Otegham and Bryan Becker; great-grandson, Gideon McKain; a great-granddaughter expected in March 2019; and sister, Alice (Bill) Waters of Mount Clemens, Mich.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Marjorie Becker; and son, Terry Becker.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Please share a memory of Francis at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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