Donald Beck

Donald Beck was a kind and generous man whose personality was larger than life. Those who knew him were well aware of his passion for racing and that he lived and breathed racing every day of his life. Donald was blessed to find the love of his life with whom he shared his passion and made so many precious memories. Although he was one of the hardest working men around, Donald also made time to have plenty of fun in his life, too. A true blessing in the lives of many, Donald will be deeply missed.

With the end of WWII in 1945, America was working hard to establish a “new normal.” Countless servicemen returned home while the industrial sector no longer needed to focus on manufacturing things needed for the war effort. Women who had stepped into the jobs their men left behind while serving overseas now resumed their lives at home, caring for their families and the household needs. The baby boom was underway and continued well into the sixties. It was within this time of great change that Oliver and Imogene (Harger) Beck were pleased to announce the birth of their son, Donald Ellsworth, on May 17, 1947. Born in St. Johns, Michigan, Donald was the older of two boys in his family including his younger brother, Darrell. He was raised in the family home in the small community of Eureka, located to the northeast of St. Johns.

In many ways, Donald enjoyed a childhood that was rather typical for the youth of his generation. He was easy going as a young boy and made friends easily. Donald enjoyed playing in the sandpit behind their garage with his brother. He rode his bike everywhere until he was 16 and like younger brothers so often do, Darrell often rode along. The Beck family was the first family to have a television in their community and as a result, lots of friends and family often dropped by to watch television along with them. Donald attended Eureka Elementary where he excelled in his studies with science being his favorite subject. He enjoyed going to school, especially being able to see all of his friends since they didn’t live nearby.

It isn’t surprising to anyone who knew Donald to hear that he got into his fair share of mischief while he was growing up. One year while their parents were out, he and his brothers found where his parents hid their Christmas presents. Those boys had a ball spreading the presents all around the floor and playing for a bit, but they were sure to have them tucked back away before their parents returned. Their parents did find out about their toy escapade, however, and for punishment, they were only allowed one Christmas present on Christmas day with the rest being opened on subsequent days, one day at a time until they were finally all opened. Not surprisingly, the boys didn’t do that again! Donald was also known to take his parents’ Model A out for a spin around their property when his parents were not at home a time or two.

After graduating from Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns, Donald entered the workforce. He held down a variety of jobs over the years that followed including running the projector at the St. Johns drive-in theater. Donald’s friends always asked him to get them in for free but since he was in the projection booth, he was not able to do so. He later got a job with the United States Postal Service at the St. Johns Post Office. Donald was soon transferred to the post office in Lansing where he remained until his retirement in 1999. He was a hard and dedicated worker throughout his life.

It was in the late 1960s that Donald developed a passion for racing that would consume his free time and thoughts for the rest of his life. From that time on he lived to race, and he built his own race cars that he took to drag strips around Michigan. Donald was even featured on ESPN for a particular race car that he built out of a Cadillac.

Life was forever changed for Donald, or "Dr. Don" as he was known around the drag strips, when he met a young woman named Catherine Buchele at a party. The couple dated for a short time and was married a few months later. Although their marriage ended in divorce after a few years, Donald was forever grateful for the birth of their daughter, Jeanette.

New and exciting changes were in store for Donald when he met the woman who would forever hold the key to his heart. Her name was Debbie Goodrich and they met at a New Year’s Eve party in 1978. From the moment they met, Donald and Debbie were inseparable, and they married on August 29, 1981, in Carland. After a honeymoon at Niagara Falls, they settled into married life together. Donald was thrilled to share his love of racing with his wife, and much of their daily lives revolved around both racing and family. There were also plenty of fun times spent at the family cottage at Crystal Lake in Montcalm County, especially for fireworks. Donald also enjoyed snowmobiling.

Donald Beck will be remembered as a perfectionist, a hard worker, and a racing enthusiast, but it will be his kind and selfless heart that will be his lasting legacy. He was the sort of person who would do anything for anyone whether in ways great or small. In everything he did, Donald embraced every breath he was given and although health issues plagued him for several years, he continued to make the most of every day. A truly remarkable man, Donald will be dearly missed and warmly remembered.

Donald Ellsworth Beck died December 23, 2010, at the age of 63. Don’s family includes his wife, Deb; his daughter, Jeanette Beck of Ann Arbor; his mother, Imogene Beck of St. Johns; brother, Darrell (Patricia) Beck of St. Johns; four grandchildren, Franklin Kennedy Jr., Oliver S. Beck, Heath Beck, Heather Beck, mother-in-law, Thelma Goodrich; sister-in-law, Donna Thompson; brother-in-law, Dan (Mary) Goodrich; and many nieces and nephews. Donald was preceded in death by his father, Oliver Beck; father-in-law, Lewis Goodrich; and brother-in-law, David Thompson. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, at The Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns, with Pastor Kathy Leydorf officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Sunday, December 26, 6-8 p.m. and Monday, December 27, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. To learn more about Donald, please visit his personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or sign the online guestbook.