Martin "Mike" Bekedam

Martin "Mike" Bekedam; Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many joined his Savior on Sunday, March 16, 2008 in Peoria, Arizona following a short illness. Born November 28, 1913 in Village Dalfsen, The Netherlands, he and his family immigrated to the United States in December of 1920, where he was raised in Ripon, California. He lived the past 15 years in Peoria, Arizona. He was active in the church all his life starting at age 14 when he helped to build a church in Ripon, California. He was president of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lodi during the construction of the new church and on the building committee for Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Orinda, California. He formerly served as a member of the Trust Committee at American Lutheran Church in Arizona. Mike was primarily self-educated through correspondence courses and extension courses at the University of California. He skated professionally and was a journeyman electrician who rewired many old mansions in San Francisco. He was an award-winning winemaker and manager at the Sanger Winery. He later managed the construction of the Yosemite Winery in Madera, California. Wanting to spend more time with his family, he opened his own electrical shop in 1948. In 1952 he moved to Orinda California with his family and opened a manufacturing plant called Industrial Steam in Oakland where he designed equipment for use in boiler plants and was granted 16 patents. Industrial Steam was very successful with representatives in all 50 states. Mike later sold the company but continued to design equipment for the new owner for the next 12 years. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons Lodge No. 316 of Sanger, California for 68 years, and a Lifetime Member of Lodge No. 122 of Orinda, California. He was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star Lodge No. 89 of Sanger, California for 67 years; a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Fresno for 64 years; and a Charter Member of the Tehran Temple of Fresno California. It is impossible to state in so few words all that Mike accomplished in his 94 years, the lives he touched, the friends he made and the humor and joy of life that he gave to us all. Besides his family and a host of friends, Mike loved his Savior, his church, his work, and travel. He was preceded in death by his son, Richard; his sister, Anna, and his brother, Pete. He is mourned by his loving wife of 68 years, Alma; his sister, Gertrude Thomson; brothers: John and Ray Bekedam; daughters: Joy Bekedam, Kathryn Noble; three grandchildren: Michael Bekedam, Heather Power and Erik Noble, two great granddaughters, Alexandra Bekedam and Audrey Noble, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at American Lutheran Church of Sun City, 17200 N. Del Webb Boulevard, Sun City, Arizona 85373. In lieu of flowers, donations, may be made to the American Lutheran Church or to the Hospice of Arizona, 2222 W. Northern Avenue Suite A-100, Phoenix, Arizona 85021. Arrangements entrusted to Sunland Mortuary, 623-933-0161.