William Robert Beckley

Beckley I, William Robert 2/1/1928 - 3/14/2017 Howell, MI William Robert Beckley I, 89, of Howell, MI, died on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 after six years of gracious and loving care given him by his daughter, Ann and her husband, Dale Lemke in their Howell, Michigan home. He was born on February 1, 1928 to Mary Ann Fry and William Robert Beckley in Detroit, MI and lived most of his life in Michigan, spending several childhood years in Bainbridge, PA and St. Petersburg, FL, and later making annual trips to Sarasota/Bradenton, FL with his wife Joan to escape the Michigan winters. He was a proud veteran of the Second World War in which he served in the 8th Armored Division tank corps during the occupation of Japan. Before his military service, he studied architecture at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, and he worked at the famous King Ranch in southern Texas. After his service, he married his wife, Joan Theodora Richards in Denton, MI in 1961. He went on to build over 1000 homes in the state of Michigan. A devout Christian and member of Hidden Springs Retreat Center, he lived a life of service to his fellow man, helping those he could help, family and friends, alike. He was known for his deep and adoring love of his wife, his kindness to everyone he knew, his pride in his family of "five children, twelve grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren," and the honor he felt to have served his country when it needed him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Theodora Beckley, on December 13th, 2009, his parents, and his siblings, Marion Bennett and Wayne Beckley. He is survived by his five children, Carolyn Joan Beckley and husband Mike Butzke of Howell, Ann T. Lemke and husband Dale of Howell, Richard William Beckley and wife Diane of Whitmore Lake, William Robert Beckley II of Hartland, and SuzAnne Ruth Akhavan-Tafti and her husband Dr. Hashem Akhavan-Tafti of Brighton; twelve grandchildren, Caryn Butzke of Howell, Greg Butzke of Allendale, Jeremy Lemke of Howell, Jason Lemke of Howell, Kimberly Emerson of Howell, Jonathan Beckley of Sand Point, Idaho, Dawn Victor of Brighton, Christina Cyrulewski of Fenton, Brian Beckley of Ann Arbor, Miriam Akhavan-Tafti of New York City, New York, William Beckley III of Hartland, Robert Beckley of Hartland; and fifteen great-grandchildren, Andrew Piercy, Michael and Gabe Butzke, Derek and Kaiden Lemke, Miles and Malia Lemke, Alec and Harper Emmerson, Kyler Beckley, Gavin Victor, Joe, Nate and Ellie Bennet, and Anbreona Butzke. Memorial is planned for 1p.m. Sunday, March 26th, 2017 at Hidden Springs Retreat Center at 5860 N. Latson Road in Howell, Michigan, 48855. Luncheon to follow at the Center. Hidden Springs Retreat Center 5860 N. Latson Road Howell, MI 48855 http://www.hiddenspringschurch.com/