Joseph “Joe” Beia passed away peacefully on April 23 at age 87 with his two daughters, Carolyn and Leslie, by his side. He will be remembered for his quick wit and delightful sense of humor. He was a beloved friend, companion, uncle, brother, and father.
Joe was born and grew up in the small village of Yuma, Michigan, the youngest of seven siblings and the son of Czechoslovakian immigrants, Wenzel and Anna (Schwarz). He adored his oldest sister, Mary (Richardson), who took on many of the responsibilities of raising her younger siblings, and despite their meager resources, ensured Joe learned his manners, experienced traditions, could dance the Foxtrot, and valued an education—skills that served him well in life. He was also very close to his older brother and best friend, Bill, whom we lost in December 2017. Together, the two of them would regale the family with stories of their upbringing, and they lovingly teased and roasted each other regularly.
Through humble beginnings, Joe was instilled with a strong work ethic that followed him through life. He held a number of jobs as a young man (US Air Force, GM, American Seating, Robert Hall) but was fortunate to have landed a position as a stock broker with Watling, Lerchen & Co (eventually A.G. Edwards) which he loved and worked at until he was 72. The A.G. Edwards office was filled with colleagues whom Joe considered good friends, even after retirement.
As a Staff Sargent in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1954, Joe was stationed near Southampton, England and remained mostly out of trouble (though not entirely) and harm’s way as a Purchaser for supplies for his base. This assignment was Joe’s first exposure to travel and cultural experience. Joe continued his interest in travel with multiple trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok and more recently trips to Italy and Germany with his daughter Carolyn. A highlight of his travels was witnessing the stunning beauty of Alaska on a cruise he took with his daughters to mark his 75th birthday. His home contained many mementoes of his voyages.
Joe’s daughters were a source of great pride for him. They were sometimes amused by the detail that others knew about their lives, a sure sign that their Dad talked about them often. They are thankful to have a father who passed on his love of and respect for nature, propensity for household “tinkering” (they are handier than most men either has dated), as well as a strong belief in pursuing advanced education.
Joe’s other pride and joy was the log cabin he built on the remnants of the family farm in Yuma. He designed and built the cabin weekend-by-weekend in the early 70s, with the help of many generous friends and family members. Dad enjoyed nothing more than “walking the estate” and constantly pruning the 50+ trees he planted on the acre. Joe was still hauling the pole saw out of the garage and taking down errant branches last summer at age 87.
Joe was fortunate to have found a devoted and caring companion in Susan Mead a bit later in life, and she supported him through both good and bad times. They shared many happy vacations and quiet, content times together.
His family will miss him but are grateful he is at peace. A memorial service will be held at Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing on Saturday, May 4 at 3:30pm, with visitation starting at 2:30pm. A reception will follow across the street at the Coral Gables restaurant. All who knew Joe are welcome to come celebrate his life. He will be buried in his hometown of Yuma over Memorial Day weekend.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18