Alan George Becker

The heavens gained an angel in the early morning of Sunday, June 22, 2025. Alan George Becker passed from this life after a full week at home with hospice. Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa on March 13th, 1942 to Esther and Gerald Becker, Alan and his brother Chuck grew up as typical Iowa farm boys in New Hartford, Iowa. Their parents instilled in them the values of commitment, loyalty, education, and the satisfaction of a full day’s work. Al had an optimistic, enthusiastic, can-do attitude that was with him until his final days.

Alan met the love of his life, Ramona Buzzetti, at Iowa State (BS- Animal Science) when her sorority was serenading his fraternity, and she could not take her eyes off his infectious grin and sparkling eyes. They married on July 31, 1965 and Alan joined Oscar Mayer. Al joined the Army during Vietnam where he served as a food inspector in Honolulu, Hawaii. These early years in paradise together helped them lay a foundation of love, mutual respect, and partnership that lasted nearly 60 years.

A successful 30-year career that started with ten years in sales took them all over the country, growing their family along the way. Al and Mona made life-long friends wherever they lived. In 1976, they moved to Madison and Corporate Oscar Mayer. In 1980, they moved to Iowa’s Quad Cities to manage The Louis Rich Company for five years before returning to Madison. In 1995 he retired as Senior VP of Operations of Oscar Mayer/Kraft. Retirement for Al and Mona meant staying busy rehabbing homes both in Madison and Portland (for their daughters), developing a successful antique furniture business, and keeping home projects in motion. Al was happiest when he was in motion. He fulfilled his desire to return to country living and bought a 250-acre farm outside of Argyle, WI. With help from the Flannery Family, he hand-built a beautiful home, woodworking shop, and renovated an old farmhouse. Anyone who has been there knows what a special place he and Mona created over those 25 years. It was here that he spent hours on the land hunting with friends, cleaning up the woods, and rehabbing buildings. He made beautiful furniture in his shop for family and friends. Al was never without a project or a plan for what to work on next!

Al loved the early morning hours, starting with a hot tub and then on to his many projects. He loved fishing trips to Canada and traveling the world with family and friends. Al took time to listen, was engaged in the present moment, and really cared about people. He was a loyal husband, father, and friend.

A family man to the core, Al instilled an adventurous, industrious, kind, and loving spirit in all of his children. Weekends were for play and he ensured his children had plenty of time for making the most of life: boating, swimming, water-skiing, camping, canoeing, biking, snow-skiing, and being outside in nature. He encouraged his kids to always do their best at whatever they loved. He was always ready to forgive people’s mishaps and accept differing opinions. He was a gentle and kind man who believed in living his life by the golden rule.

Al leaves a hole in our hearts that will take a while to mend. He touched many lives deeply in ways that can never be replaced nor erased. Al is at peace with God and we know he will continue to watch over us all of our days.

Alan is survived by his loving wife, Ramona (Mona), his four children and four grandchildren: Anne (Tim) Rookey of Middleton, Susan (dear friend Peter Forster) and daughter Lucy Wambold of Evansville, Allison (Ry Thompson) and son Sylvan Thompson of Evansville, and Marc (Lisa) Vieno and children Tula and Ned of Helsinki, Finland (Portland, OR); his brother, Charles (Judy) Becker; brothers-in-law Tony (Lori) Buzzetti and Bob (Gina) Buzzetti; sister-in-law Diana (Byron) Boysen; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. All are welcome to his celebration of life on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 4:00 at Al and Mona’s home in Evansville, WI. The service will start promptly at 4:30 followed by sharing memories and food. (Private burial at a later date.) Memorial donations in Al’s name can be made to: St. John’s Lutheran Church in Evansville (312 S 3rd Street, 53536) and/or SSM-Health at Home Foundation- Hospice (2802 Walton Commons Lane; Madison, WI 53718). Thank you to all the AMAZING Hospice providers and St. Mary’s staff who took such wonderful care of Al during the last nine days of his life. We couldn’t have imagined a more perfect transition for him.