Richard Beckett

Richard Beckett, better known as Dick, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 4th, 2024, at St. Clare’s Hospital.

Dick was born in Madison, WI, to Lloyd and Thelma Beckett on February 18th, 1952, and as he would always say, “Did you know Vanna White and I have the same birthday?”. Dick grew up in Portage, WI. He met the love of his life in 1973, Carol Paske, and they were married August 31st, 1974, at St John’s Lutheran Church. They were blessed with their first son, Mitchell, in 1976. In 1978, they were blessed with their twins, Tyler and Tony. However, on that day, unbeknownst to them, the doctor looked at Dick and asked him if he had not one but two names picked out. Raising his boys was his proudest accomplishment. He loved watching them wrestle, participate in sports, and watching them grow into the men they are today.

Dick taught his boys to be wonderful fathers themselves, and his greatest pride and joy were his six grandchildren. He loved spending time with them and watching them from the stands, cheering them on. He taught them to love fishing, the Three Stooges, and “classic” movies. He taught them the “Beckett way” of playing monopoly and would take them all on in a fierce game at every family gathering. He somehow managed to beat them all.

Dick loved to travel with Carol, play cards, tell stories, fish, and watch movies. His favorite times were fishing up north with his wife, his sons, and grandchildren. He always had the greatest gift of being able to have a conversation with anyone, and making people smile and laugh with his storytelling, his jokes, and his witty one-liners. He was never afraid to voice his true opinion, and we will forever hear him calling for CAROL.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years Carol; sons: Mitchell (Jessica) Beckett, Tyler (Angela) Beckett, and Tony (Jennifer) Beckett; grandchildren: Chase, Mycah, Cole, Vance, Mya, and Vivian; brother, Brent (Cathy) Beckett; sister, Judy Beckett (Hamilton, Ohio); brother-in-law, Max (Maryanne) Paske; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Michael) Mulhern; and many very special nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Thelma; his in-laws, Lester and Joyce Paske; brother, Ernest; sisters, Lana and Tammy; his siblings, Neil and Carolann; sister-in-law, June from Hamilton Ohio; nephew, Bradley; and his beloved companion, Zeke.

A service in Dick’s honor will be held on Friday, August 16th, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Portage (850 Armstrong St.) at 3 pm. A Celebration of Life will follow from 4-6pm in St. John’s gathering space.

The family would like to thank Dr. Krszjzaniek , Dr Hamburg, Melissa O’Rourke, Sheryl Obernberger NP, nurse Matt, and the St. Clare Hospital staff in ICU, who were wonderful in their care of Dick and his family. Your kindness and compassion were so greatly appreciated. Dick was greatly loved by so many and will be missed more than he knows by those that loved him most.

God likes his lawn cut at 3 ½ inches. He just got the perfect man for the job.