June 15, 1932 – November 3, 2022
Bert was born in Mackinaw, Ill., and grew up in Polo, Ill., where he made lifelong friends and learned to love the working man’s life. There were many stories of his beloved Grandma and Grandpa Powell’s life on the farm which shaped him into becoming hardworking, curious, and confident.
His parents Leon & Vivian Beecher preceded him in death. His older brother Fred (Jo) survives in Blue Grass, Iowa. He was married to F. Joyce Kiser in 1957. Before they divorced in 1974, Bert and Joyce brought into this world three children who survive, Teri (John) Ditslear of Noblesville, Mark (Deana) Beecher of Brownsburg, and Keri (Rick) Loy of Avon. The nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren will need to rely on their parents’ memories of who their grandfather was and the legacy he leaves behind.
Bert joined the Air Force during the Korean War, and after serving graduated from Northern Illinois University, where he studied English. Most of his career was in the advertising and marketing arena, finally retiring from FMC Corp in the early ‘80s. He enjoyed trying new foods and loved words and word games, along with sports of any kind. With a great sense of humor, he toasted Judge Judy every day at 4 p.m. with his “two fingers” of Maker’s Mark.
He married Barbara Beecher in 1975 and she preceded him in death in 2018. They lived for many years in Sun City, Ariz., in which he smartly nicknamed “God’s waiting room.” The last four years he lived in Noblesville with Teri and John in hopes of renewing relationships with all his kids.
There will be a visitation and memorial from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Matteo’s restaurant in Noblesville. His remains will be interred in Polo, Ill., at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Roots of Life Community Church, 222 Lakeview Drive, Noblesville, IN 46060; or to the Humane Society for Hamilton County, 10501 Hague Road, Fishers, IN 46038 (hamiltonhumane.com) in honor of his beloved dog, Rootie.
Condolences: randallroberts.com