1931
Mr.
2009
Mr. Robert Beck
November 10, 1931 — October 15, 2009
Robert W. “Bear” Beck
Bear, 77, of Lake Quivira, KS “flew west” on October 15, 2009. A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, October 19, 2009 at Country Club Christian Church (61st Street and Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO) at 4:00 pm.
Bear was born Nov. 10 (Marine Corps Birthday), 1931 in Hebron, NE. He attended Hebron High School where he was an All Conference Linebacker and Captain of the basketball team in 1950. He attended and played basketball at Doane College and enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet program during the Korean War. Bear got his wings as a Marine Aviator and spent 1-1/2 years in Korea with VMA 251, a close support squadron. After 4 years in the Marines he joined Trans World Airlines and flew for them for the next 37 years, with his last 10 years flying International to Europe on the 747. He was a charter member on the famed “Ohio Valley Flying Zoo” earning his nickname the “Dancing Bear”. Six months before retiring in 1991, he volunteered to fly U.S. Troops in the Gulf War’s, Operation Desert Storm, and later was awarded an Air Medal for his service.
His great loves were Family, Nebraska Football, Kansas Basketball, the Chiefs, golfing with the Sandbaggers and his annual golf tournament the Bearly Open.
Bear is survived by his true love of 38 years, his wife Sandi; two sons Bill and wife Debbie of Leawood, KS, and Kevin and wife Jennie of Lenexa, KS; two daughters Ann and husband Bob Behner of Leawood, KS and Carrie and husband Mike Jones of Kansas City, MO .; nine grandchildren, Courtney and Parker Beck, Margaret, Ella, and Beck Behner, Katie and Rylee Jones and Alayna and Lilly Beck; and his sister JoAnn Varsa Doehring of Superior, Nebraska.
Donations may be made in Bear’s memory to the KU Cancer Center c/o KU Endowment 3901 Rainbow Kansas City, KS 66160
Bear, 77, of Lake Quivira, KS “flew west” on October 15, 2009. A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, October 19, 2009 at Country Club Christian Church (61st Street and Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO) at 4:00 pm.
Bear was born Nov. 10 (Marine Corps Birthday), 1931 in Hebron, NE. He attended Hebron High School where he was an All Conference Linebacker and Captain of the basketball team in 1950. He attended and played basketball at Doane College and enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet program during the Korean War. Bear got his wings as a Marine Aviator and spent 1-1/2 years in Korea with VMA 251, a close support squadron. After 4 years in the Marines he joined Trans World Airlines and flew for them for the next 37 years, with his last 10 years flying International to Europe on the 747. He was a charter member on the famed “Ohio Valley Flying Zoo” earning his nickname the “Dancing Bear”. Six months before retiring in 1991, he volunteered to fly U.S. Troops in the Gulf War’s, Operation Desert Storm, and later was awarded an Air Medal for his service.
His great loves were Family, Nebraska Football, Kansas Basketball, the Chiefs, golfing with the Sandbaggers and his annual golf tournament the Bearly Open.
Bear is survived by his true love of 38 years, his wife Sandi; two sons Bill and wife Debbie of Leawood, KS, and Kevin and wife Jennie of Lenexa, KS; two daughters Ann and husband Bob Behner of Leawood, KS and Carrie and husband Mike Jones of Kansas City, MO .; nine grandchildren, Courtney and Parker Beck, Margaret, Ella, and Beck Behner, Katie and Rylee Jones and Alayna and Lilly Beck; and his sister JoAnn Varsa Doehring of Superior, Nebraska.
Donations may be made in Bear’s memory to the KU Cancer Center c/o KU Endowment 3901 Rainbow Kansas City, KS 66160
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