Charlotte Beckmann

Charlotte Beckmann was a caring wife and mother who dedicated her life to raising and caring for her family. She was an honest and compassionate woman who valued simple pleasures over flashy material possessions. From her early years in the height of occupied France to her restful days of content happiness in Grand Rapids, Charlotte found the greatest happiness in the presence of her loved ones.

The world was in a state of disrepair during the period when Charlotte was born. Most of Western Europe lay in smoldering wreckage in 1923, due to the terrible war waged several years earlier. Though the fighting ended in 1918, France was still not back to full strength as the 1920's progressed. A great challenge had passed, yet another dangerous trial awaited Europe and the rest of the world. It was a period of reconstruction and growth, of change and trepidation.

Charlotte entered these turbulent times on September 27th, 1923, in Cannes, France. She was the middle of three children born to an Italian Father and an Argentine mother who had settled in the country years before. Charlotte's childhood was not that of an ordinary girl. Her father passed away when she was 5 years old, leaving her mother to care for all three girls. This task just wasn't possible in those days, so Charlotte and her sisters were sent to board at an orphanage in St. Paul Du Vence. Her mother came once a month to visit the girls and brought with her whatever treats she could afford to give them.

At the orphanage, Charlotte learned many skills from the Dominican Sisters who cared for the girls. She earned great skill at fine stitching and embroidering and could sew or mend almost anything by the time she was in her teens. All of the girls were taught such skills so that they could find employment and support themselves when they grew too old for the orphanage. Charlotte left in 1939 to find employment. She moved to Nice, France located on the French Riviera, where she took a job in a Millenary shop. There she designed and assembled elegant and unique women's hats.

Charlotte's newfound independence didn't last very long. Just a few short months after she moved to Nice, Germany invaded Poland sparking the beginning of World War II. People all around Charlotte became very uneasy at the actions of the German juggernaut as it swallowed up country after country. France couldn't escape the advances of the Nazis and surrendered to the German Commanders. Everyday life changed from that point, as the streets filled with hundreds of armed troops with orders to keep all citizens under close watch. There was a nightly curfew around the country that the soldiers used guns to enforce. They would fire their weapons to motivate the populace to stay indoors and out of trouble. One time, a stray warning shot scraped Charlotte, giving her minor injuries. She was injured another time when she accidentally hit an underwater obstacle meant to prevent allied ships from landing. The allied ships did finally arrive, and this began a new and far more terrifying chapter of the war. The German army and the allied forces began to battle all across the French countryside, with thousands of citizens and innocent people all around.

One of the US troops in France was a young man named Charles Beckmann; a medic attached to an Army engineering unit. Charles was walking on the beach one day and he saw a group of young people throwing a ball around. The ball was passed to Charles and he threw it to one of the attractive young girls. This girl just happened to be Charlotte. They started talking, and later Charles asked her out. A long romance began from there, conducted by means of correspondence throughout the remainder of the war.

Charles completed his tour of duty and returned home to the United States. He wrote to Charlotte and asked her to be his wife. She accepted and bid farewell to her home to live with Charles in the United States. They married on February 18th, 1947 at the Saint James Catholic Church in Grand Rapids where Charles grew up. Married life was a time of peace and great joy for Charlotte. The couple built a house in the early 1950's in Grand Rapids and this was Charlotte's favorite place on earth. Charles and Charlotte decided that the house would be far better if filled with children. They had 4 children, David Louis, Bernard, Kathy and a daughter Jeanne Ellen who died in infancy. Charlotte was a loving and caring mother who rejoiced at spending time with her children. She was very patient and tolerant with her children, especially the boys. They used to bring all manners of small animals and other creatures home with them that they claimed as "pets". Charlotte loved animals, but some of the organisms brought home by her sons were only allowed because she loved her boys so much.

Charlotte became a US citizen in 1952 and chose to serve on a grand jury for 18 months as her civic duty. She was also an active member of the Carl Johnson Post Auxiliary, the Senior Neighbors, as well as an avid supporter of the Kent County Humane Society. Charlotte was very fortunate when her sisters and mother decided to relocate to the United States as well. Her older sister married a US serviceman just like Charlotte had, and her mother chose to live in the US to be close to the girls. Charlotte's mother left many special items to Charlotte when she died - items that Charlotte forever cherished. Charlotte found happiness in many different activities. She was an excellent cook and made treats for the whole family. Charlotte herself was especially fond of American breads which were soft, unlike hard French breads. She loved to grow beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables in her gardens surrounding the house. Charlotte and Charles once won an award for their immense and beautiful garden work. She liked to relax in her favorite living room chair and solve crossword puzzles or embroider items for her family and friends. But above all, Charlotte was happiest spending time with her husband and children. She was a compassionate woman who took great pleasure in the simple beauties of life.

Charlotte passed away on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2003. She is predeceased by her infant daughter Jeanne Ellen and her son David Louis. Surviving are her husband, of 56 years, Charles Beckmann, her children: Bernard and Judy Beckmann of Walker, Kathy and Donald Avey of Ankeny IA, her grandchildren: Adrian Beckmann, Paul Avey, Laura Avey, Eric and Rhonda Beckmann, Scott Beckmann, Stacey Beckmann and Robert Beckmann, her great grandchildren Kaleb Beckmann and Gavin Beckmann, her daughter-in-law Millie Beckmann, her sisters: Yolande Murphy and Louise Bieluch both of Jersey City, NJ and nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be celebrated Saturday at 10 A.M. at St. James Catholic Church with interment to follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Mrs. Beckmann reposes at the Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr., where relatives and friends may meet her family Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. A Bible Vigil Service will be held Friday evening at 7 P.M. To read Charlotte's complete life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to Kent County Humane Society, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.

Charlotte was a caring and compassionate woman that lived a quiet life dedicated to her family. She will be greatly missed.