Immie Beck

Immogene Mary Beck

Immogene “Immie” Beck completed her earthly life journey on November 7, 2022.  She was born on December 25, 1924 to Robert and Ruby (Griffith) Crawford.  Immie was 97 years and 318 days old.

She grew up in Des Moines and graduated from Roosevelt High School in January 1943.  She attended Grace Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir for 40 years.  While vacationing at Lake Okaboji in 1947, she attended the Roof Garden dance and met Bill Beck from Boone, Iowa, who was also vacationing there.  They were married on June 5, 1948 at Grace Lutheran Church. They had three children, Steve (1949), Stan (1952) and Susan (1956).  From the late fifties to early sixties, she cared for babies who were going to be put up for adoption through Lutheran Welfare Society.  She would care for them for a few days or weeks.  She cared for 55 babies over 8 years.  This is what was said in a newspaper article about her fostering the babies, “A small energetic woman with kindness written all over her face, Immogene has one especially important asset which makes her an ideal temporary mother, SHE CARES!  She feels a persistent desire to help other human beings and to give of herself, her time and her talents to this cause.”  Immogene then helped Bill with his insurance agency for a few years. She was then employed at Bob Brown Chevrolet for 7 years then employed by Iowa Equitable for 11 years before retiring in 1985.  She and Bill started to spend winters in the Rio Grande area, then in the mid-nineties, they started to spend their winters In Lakeland, Florida.  While in Lakeland, they were still in Polk County (Florida) and attended Grace Lutheran Church (Lakeland).  They moved to Lakeland in 2005.  Bill passed away in 2016.  Immie then moved to live with her daughter, Susan, in Urbandale, Iowa, in January 2021. Susan cared for her Mom until her passing.

Immie was full of life and had no problem telling you what she thought.  She was dedicated to her family.  It was very rare for her to miss a family event, birthday, wedding, etc.  She and Bill traveled, usually by car.  She was a tireless volunteer.  There was always something at church she was helping with.  She was the mobile home park FMO (Florida Manufactured Home Owners of Florida) representative/greeter where she and Bill lived for twenty years.  They were in many social groups, played cards and bowled.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, and her brother Bob.

Immie is survived by her three children, Steve (Lithea) Beck, Lakeland Florida, Stan (Carol) Beck, Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Susan (Clarence) Weihs, Urbandale, Iowa.  One sister, Joann Pierce, Des Moines; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two great-greatgrandchildren and many friends and relatives.

There will be a Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 14, 2022 at Grace Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa.  There will be interment early next year at the Florida National Cemetery where she will once again be united with Bill.  Cremation was entrusted to the care of McLaren Resthaven Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to her daughter, Susan.

Susan Weihs
8104 Valdez Circle
Urbandale, IA 50322