Lucy J. Beierle

1917 - 2016

Lucy J. Beierle, a resident of Sacramento for over 50 years until moving to be near her daughter in 2004, passed away December 8, 2016, three weeks short of her 99th birthday. Lucy was born December 31, 1917 in Lowell, MA and grew up on a farm near Sidney, Montana. Lucy retained a lifelong love of the "Big Sky Country" and the rolling hills of wheat fields as far as the eye could see. Having skipped a grade in grammar school, Lucy was ready for high school at age 12 and had to move to town, away from her family, working for her room and board in order to attend Sidney High School. She was remembered in her school yearbook as the girl with "a merry heart." Being a farm girl, she recalled that although she was not in the popular clique, nevertheless the town girls would come to her for advice with their problems! After graduation she attended business college in another town and won a statewide speed typing contest. Lucy met her future husband, Fred Beierle, in Sidney when both were working at the Ford Motor Company there, she in accounting and he in auto body work. They were married in Conrad, Montana in 1939. During World War II Fred worked at McClellan Field in Sacramento, while Lucy found accounting work. After the war they lived for periods in Arizona and Utah before returning permanently to Sacramento. After 15 years of marriage, Lucy and Fred welcomed their only child, Wanda. Lucy was one of the founding parents of the Sacramento Waldorf School, and Wanda was one of the first two students in the school at age 4. Around 1958, having previously owned the Pioneer Club bar in North Sacramento, Fred took over a business at 2217 Del Paso Blvd, North Sacramento, and christened it the Sun Down Club, later the Sun Down Casino. Lucy managed the accounting side while Fred ran the bar and card room. The Sun Down was a home away from home for many local residents. After Fred's passing in 1972, Lucy continued to run the business until she retired in 1989. Surely the patrons appreciated her warm heart and sparkling personality. Lucy had a multifaceted personality: a farm girl at heart, lover of nature, animals and indigenous cultures; capable businesswoman; avid reader, especially of philosophy and futuristic topics; excellent cook and vivacious hostess; devoted wife and mother; and a streak of hippie chick! During the 1970's and 80's Lucy would let her hairdressers experiment with color and once turned up with streaks of every color in her white hair! Lucy was not keen on travel to normal vacation spots such as Hawaii or Europe, but she did want to see the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. In 2000, Lucy and Wanda enjoyed a land tour of Turkey and did indeed see the Grand Bazaar and other Turkish historical sites, followed by a cruise with stops in several surrounding countries. Two years later, the mother-daughter duo completed another cruise, this time around the Mediterranean Sea with many interesting ports. In 2004, Lucy sold her home (designed by Fred) on Lacy Lane and moved south to be near her daughter in Sherman Oaks (Los Angeles County). She conquered numerous health problems in her later years and continued to enjoy life with a sound mind until shortly before her passing. Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret Jaskot; sister, Anne Herrett; brother, Julius Jaskot; and her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Wanda L. Gelsebach (George); sister, Barbara Cotter; brothers, Henry Jaskot and Joseph Jaskot; nephew, Brant Herrett as well as many more nieces and nephews; dear friend Andrea Alvarado; and feline companion, Zoey. We all love Lucy and will not say "RIP" because we hope she is having fun adventures on the other side! Memorial service will be held at a later date. Ashes to be scattered over the Montana farmland. For anyone who wishes to share memories, Wanda may be reached at wanda4therapy@ sbcglobal.net.