Fredric Powell Beecher ^{2 3 4 5 6}

   Another name for Fredric was Fred Beecher.

   FamilySearch ID: LLC7-22M.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1940 in Freeport, Stephenson, IL. ⁸ The 1940 census recorded owning a $7000 home at 30 E. Jefferson St: Leon F. Beecher, supervisor farm administration, 42, living with wife Vivian, 31; Fredric, 11; and Bert, 7. Everyone was born in Illinois. Leon had attended 5 years of college and Vivian 2. In 1935 they lived in La Moille, Illinois.

2. He was described as 5' 10" 150 lbs brown eyes black hair ruddy complexion on 25 Feb 1947 in Oregon, Ogle, IL. ⁵

3. Residence: Box 183 on 25 Feb 1947 in Polo, Ogle, IL. ⁵

4. He was educated at freshman at Illinois State Normal University in Sep 1947 in Normal, McLean, IL.

5. Newspaper: Freeport Journal-Standard: "Those from Polo who left Monday to enter Illinois State Normal university are: Louise Travis, Edmund and Edward Raley, Fred Beecher, Harold French and Arnold Scholl.", 10 Sep 1947, Freeport, Stephenson, IL. ⁹

6. Census in 1950 in Dixon, Lee, IL. ¹⁰ The 1950 census recorded Fred Beecher,clerk in paint store, 21, as a roomer in the home of widow Myrtle George, 65. Also in the home was roomer Richard Ardnt, bookkeeper for poultry house, 24. Richard was born in Iowa and the others in Illinois.

7. Newspaper: Dixon Evening Telegram: Bride Elect: Mr. And Mrs. Frank J. Curran of 926 Ottawa avenue announce the engagement of their oldest daughter, Mary Sue, to Fred Beecher, son of Mr. And Mrs. Leon F. Beecher of Polo. No definite date has been set for the wedding., 7 Jan 1950, Dixon, Lee, IL. ¹ (photo of Mary Sue Curran).

8. Newspaper: Sterling Daily Gazette: Polo Briefs: Burt Beecher left Sunday to visit relatives in Washington. He expects to be gone two weeks. Mr. And Mrs. Fred Beecher and Michael of Mt. Morris moved Thursday to the Boddiger apartment on South Divison street., 6 Jun 1951, Sterling, Whiteside, IL. ¹¹

9. Residence: on 15 Apr 1952 in Dixon, Lee, IL. ¹²

10. Newspaper: Dixon Evening Telegraph: "Mr and Mrs. Fred Beecher and son, Michael, Dixon, were Sunday guests of the former's parents, Mr. And Mrs. Leon Beecher.", 15 Jul 1952, Dixon, Lee, IL. ¹³

11. Newspaper: Rock Island Argus, 18 Jul 1955, Rock Island, Rock Island, IL. ¹⁴ Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beecher and children, Michael and Susan, of Ames, Iowa, moved Friday into the Mervin Waite house on Highway 2 near Erie. Beecher is employed at the Goodyear Tire and Applicance Store in Moline. Mrs. Beecher and Mrs. Floyd Wohrley are sisters.

12. Newspaper: Rock Island Argus: Births: ERIE -- Mr. And Mrs. Fred P. Beecher, a son, this morning in St. Anthony's Hospital., 29 Sep 1955, Rock Island, Rock Island, IL. ¹⁵

13. Occupation: 1956 Rock Island City Directory: Beecher Fred P (Mary S) asst store mgr Gooyear Service Stores h 3717 14th av (Moline) in 1956 in Moline, Rock Island, IL. ¹⁶

14. Newspaper: Muscatine News-Journal: photo of Fred Beecher, 16 Nov 1960, Muscatine, Muscatine, IA. ¹⁷ (photo caption)
Ralph Reynolds on the left and Fred Beecher, Hotpoint sales counselor for the area are shown in the above picture demonstrating a new Hotpoint electric range. Hotpoin features the Calrod unit that has undergone 30 years of testing and is slimmer, stronger, more efficient than its cousin of a generation ago. Turkey sandwiches and coffee will be served at Reynolds Friday November 18th during this truckload sale of Hotpoint ranges. A four piece setting of Brooke-Park Mel-Mac dinnerware will be given free with purchase of any Hotpoint appliance during this event. Mr. Beecher will be at Reynolds Electric to answer any questions about new Hotpoint Recipe Ranges.

15. Residence: on 23 Feb 1967 in Bettendorf, Scott, IA. ³

16. Newspaper: Quad-City Times: Births: Mercy Hospital: BEECHER, Mr. And Mrs. Fred, 1120 15th St., Bettendorf, boy, Wednesday., 16 Nov 1967, Davenport, Scott, IA. ¹⁸

17. Newspaper: Iowa City Press-Citizen: Incorporation of Beecher Company, Inc., 24 Mar 1973, Iowa City, Johnson, IA. ¹⁹ NOTICE OF INCORPORATION
Notice is given of the incorporation of BEECHER COMPANY, INC. under the provisions of Chapter 496, 1966 Code of Iowa.
Date of incorporation was March 14, 1973, and of perpetual duration and said Corporation has the power to engage in and do any lawful act or business for which Corporations may be authorized under the law.
The aggregate number of shares authorized are 10,000 shares of common stock with the par value of $10.00 per share. The address of the registered office is 1003 D Ave., Vinton, Iowa, and the name of its registered agent of such address is Fredric P. Beecher.
The directors, as designated by the Articles of Incorporation are Fredric P. Beecher, 1003 D. Ave., Vinton, Iowa; Patrick L. Moore, 411 Kenwood Drive, Iowa City, Iowa; and Marie C. Moore, 411 Kenwood Drive, Iowa City, Iowa.
BEECHER COMPANY, INC.
MARIE C. MOORE, Secretary
Williard M. Freed
505 Iowa State Bank Bldg.
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Attorney for Corporation.

18. Newspaper: Iowa City Press-Citizen: David Beecher, son of Mr. And Mrs. Fred P. Beecher, 2825 East Washington Street, will be a freshman at Cornell College in Mount Vernon this fall., 19 Aug 1974, Iowa City, Johnson, IA. ²⁰

19. Occupation: Beecher Kitchen Center on 22 Jul 1978 in Burlington, Skagit, WA. ²¹

20. Residence: on 22 Jul 1978 in Sedro-Woolley, Skagit, WA. ²¹

21. Residence: 1526 E. High St., Davenport, IA on 26 Nov 1995 in Davenport, Scott, IA. ²²

22. Residence: in Sep 1999 in Davenport, Scott, IA.

23. Residence: 1 Bingham Pl, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 on 1 Jan 2004 in Sedro-Woolley, Skagit, WA. ²³

24. Residence: 2507 214th St N, Port Byron, IL 61275 on 15 Nov 2007 in Port Byron, Rock Island, IL. ²⁴

25. Obituary: on 29 Apr 2024 in Davenport, Scott, IA. ^{2 6} Fredric Powell Beecher, 95, of Davenport, Iowa passed away peacefully at his home on Monday April 29, 2024. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024, at St Andrew's Catholic Church in Blue Grass. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the church. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be made to St. Andrews or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
Fredric Powell Beecher was born on February 23, 1929 in Decatur, Illinois to Vivian (Powell) and Leon Beecher. He was united in marriage to Mary "Sue" Curran on May 6, 1950, in Dixon, Illinois. She preceded him in death on March 16, 2017. He later married JoAnne "Jo" (Arthur) Doofe on October 15, 2017 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Davenport, Iowa.
Fred attended Illinois State University and participated in their football, basketball, and baseball programs. In 1949, Fred was scouted from a farm team he played on in Champagne, IL to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals. He so famously and humbly retold his experience of the end of the two week try-out: Manager Billy Southworth called him in and said "Fred, you are a really good pitcher. But we don't need good pitchers, we need great ones!" Fred always remained loyal to this team. He loved watching the Hawkeyes as well. He coached and participated in his children's sports and cheered on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as much as possible.
Fred spent his career in sales. He was always an optimist and enjoyed moving many times for his jobs and to start new endeavors in his sales career. He was especially proud of the seven year stay in Sedro Wooley, WA where he and his family started a cabinet company and where he was able to connect with many of his father's side of the family.
He remained spry and humorous right until the end. A visit with him always included a wonderful story from the past. His impeccable memory, light-heartedness and style of engaging his family and strangers alike will always be cherished. Fred's favorite pastimes included fishing, playing sports with his kids, music, and storytelling. He took up painting when he retired; we all have been blessed with one or more beautiful works of art. He was an excellent golfer, his amateur career includes an albatross (double eagle) at the Duck Creek Golf Course. There were several family Beecher Opens that took place through the years to which Fred took home the cherished "Horse's Ass Trophy" at least one time!
Fredric is survived by his wife, Jo, of Davenport; his son, Mike (Michelle) Beecher, of Palatine, IL, and his children, Michael (Debbie) Beecher, and Matthew Beecher; his daughter, Susan (Gerry) Haan, of Davenport, Iowa, and their children, Gerry (Melanie) Haan, and Katie (Creighton) Duncan, and Jessica (Jason) Kluever; his son, David (Becky) Beecher, of Iowa City, Iowa and their children, Nic (Taylor) Beecher, Alex (Andrea) Beecher, Asya (Jarid) Reid, Addy Beecher, Tony (Abby) Sturgell, Tim (Katie) Sturgell; and his son Matthew (Lisa) Beecher of Davenport and their children, Emily Beecher (Zach) Schmidt, Aleah and Ben Beecher. Fred was also "Grandpa-the-Great" to 27 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife Sue, Fred was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Bert Beecher. May they rest in peace.

Fredric married Mary Sue Curran, daughter of Francis "Frank" Jerome Curran and Oma May Rendleman, on 6 May 1950 in Dixon, Lee, IL.^{1 2} (Mary Sue Curran was born on 22 Dec 1929 in Sterling, Whiteside, IL ^{4 25} and died on 16 Mar 2017 in Davenport, Scott, IA ^{2 25}.)

Fredric next married JoAnne "Jo" Doofe on 15 Oct 2017 in Davenport, Scott, IA.²