Eric Beck

Some people make a success of their life even with a rough beginning. Eric Beck was one of those people. He became a successful business man, creating a business with his sons that employs many people and is still in existence today. His outgoing personality and ready humor drew people to him, making friends instantly. He was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who would do anything for his family. He was an inspiration throughout his life.

Born on October 26, 1941 at home in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Maurice and Minervia (Kennedy) Beck, Eric was the youngest of nine children. Maurice and Minervia worked hard to raise Eric and his older siblings: Maurice, Kent, Marcia, Maureen, Basil, Bryce, Sharon and Andrew. Maurice worked as a painter while Minervia stayed home to care for the children and run the household. Eric contracted polio at the age of eleven and after spending six months at Mary Free Bed Hospital, he had recovered enough to come home and later had Rheumatic fever as well. Also while Eric was eleven years old, his mother died of tuberculosis. When Maurice was no longer able to care for the family, the children were sent to live with various relatives. Eric ended up in more than one orphanage (even one in Oklahoma) and was sent out to work at local farms. He often ran away. Eventually, Eric was raised by foster parents Marvin and Lucille Kroondyke living with them in Grand Rapids, the Boston Square area. Eric graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1959.

Some people would have been broken by such difficult beginnings, but not Eric. His early struggles produced a hard working, determined young man. He found employment as a young teen at Boston Foods as a meat cutter and later worked at Herrod’s, Vanderbrink meats and Eberhards. He often worked two jobs a day. Eric’s hard early life also had the effect of strengthening his faith in God and his devotion to family. He made sure he stayed in touch with his siblings throughout his life. By the grace of God, Eric was able to survive and persevere.

It was while visiting Lovelands drugs on Franklin Street that Eric’s life started to take a turn for the better. There at the soda fountain he met a young lady named Kathryn Kawka who worked there as a soda jerk. Eric returned again and again to Lovelands, ordering countless sodas just to be around this pretty young lady! They soon began dating and fell in love. The happy couple was married by a justice of the peace on March 10, 1961 in Grand Rapids.

Eric and Kathryn began their married life together in an apartment in Grand Rapids. Later they bought a home on Josten and their final home in Allendale, Michigan in 1969. At times Eric worked as many as three jobs at once to earn enough money for the family to buy their home. Over the next few years, they brought three handsome boys into the world: Eric II on November 13, 1962, Scott on November 18, 1963 and Edward on March 14, 1965. The boys attended Lee and Godfrey Elementary Schools and all three graduated from Allendale High School, with Eric II graduating from GVSU. The family enjoyed camping trips to Grand Haven, Muskegon and Chinook Campground where they spent many hours relaxing and bonding as a family.

In 1966, Eric wanted a business of his own, so he started Beck Auto Body in Leonard Heights where he worked detailing cars. With his love of cars and his love of people, Eric’s business soon began to take off. His sense of humor and friendly manner drew people to him. He had the ability to make people feel at ease, becoming their friend in no time at all. People were also touched by Eric’s generosity. Remembering his difficult childhood made him softhearted toward anyone who needed a helping hand, or a dollar or two.

Over time, Eric started an industrial painting business along with the body shop. Eventually, he moved both businesses to Allendale. Eric had such a passion for cars, he was always fixing them up and selling them. He bought and owned many cars over the years, often in various stages of repair. And even though he had many cars, he often joked that he never had anything to drive! When Eric's boys were young, they worked right alongside their dad and continue to proudly run and operate the businesses to this very day. Many relatives have been employed there throughtout the years as well.

Holidays at Eric and Kathryn’s house were filled with lots of food, lots of love, and lots of relatives from both sides of the family. There isn’t anything Eric wouldn’t do for his family; he spent all of his time with them not only at work, but in recreation as well. In 1984 he bought a beautiful cabin cruiser that the whole family enjoyed for many years. Eric enjoyed deer hunting season and would often help his son and grandson butcher the deer themselves. The family home was always open to friends of the boys and anyone else who needed a welcoming haven.

In his free time, Eric loved listening to country music, watching Turner Classics and the Three Stooges. He also loved rare beef, grilling and fountain coke that he dubbed, “Sparkley Coke”!

As he got older, Eric suffered from congestive heart failure, chronic heart problems (he had a heart attack at age thirty-seven) and diabetes. Even though he had a lot of health problems, Eric didn’t have much use for doctors! Eric died peacefully in his sleep, early Tuesday morning in his own house with the people he loved the most; his family.

Eric Beck was a wonderful family man, generous to a fault, an outstanding father, grandfather, and great grandfather; a man who loved his wife immensely. He rose from humble beginnings to be a successful business man who had the love of his family and the friendship of many. He was an inspiration to all and will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know him.

Eric T. Beck was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Minervia Beck, his brothers and sisters, Maurice, Bryce, Basil, Marcia and Maureen. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Kathy Beck (Kawka); his children, Eric II and Suzanne Beck, Scott and Lori Beck, Edward and Gayl Beck; his grandchildren, Alexandra (fiancé Rodney Street), Melissa, Eric III, Seth, Andrew, Devin and Edward II; his great grandson, Zane; his brothers and sister, Kent Beck, Sharon Beck, Andrew Beck; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Harriet Beck, Betty Beck, Ken and Judy Kawka, Dick and Kathy Kawka, Pam Pargeon; many nieces, nephews and many friends, and his faithful companion, his dog Abigail. The Mass of Christian Burial and committal service will be celebrated on Monday morning at 11:00 AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (meet at the church). Burial in Allendale Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet his family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Saturday from 7-9, Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 with a vigil service at 7:00 PM and again on Monday, one hour prior to the Mass at Holy Spirit. Contributions in his memory may be made to St. John’s Home. To sign his guest book and to leave your own memories of him, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com