Alan Becker

Alan Clyde Becker, 84, of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, passed away on March 31, 2025, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at United Methodist Church, 208 W Main St, Calmar, IA, with Pastor Karen Carlton presiding. Burial in Calmar City Cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home – Chekal Chapel, 201 E Main, Fort Atkinson, IA. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the start of the service on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
Memorials may be directed to the Calmar Greater Area Food Pantry.
Alan was born to Clyde and Esther Becker in Independence, Iowa, on July 19, 1940, and grew up on a farm near Lamont, Iowa. He graduated from Lamont High School in 1958 and Upper Iowa University in 1962 with a Bachelor's degree in Social Studies.
Alan taught one year at Arlington High School before being drafted. He served in the Army from 1963 to 1965 and was stationed at Fort Eustis in Virgina.
After the service, Alan taught and coached at Wheatland High School (1965-1970). He took graduate courses in the summers and obtained a Master's Degree in History Education from Northeast Missouri State University.
In 1970, Alan was hired as a social studies teacher at Turkey Valley Community School in Jackson Junction, Iowa. During his first year at Turkey Valley, he began dating the art teacher, LuAnne Burns. They were married on July 31, 1971, and they were blessed with three daughters.
Alan taught various courses during his 30-year career at Turkey Valley, including US History, Geography, Global Studies, and Futuristics. He did not rely on textbooks but instead developed his own teaching units representing diverse perspectives. For ten years, Alan taught a class at Luther College on methods of teaching social studies. After retiring in 2000, he served as a mentor for new teachers.
Service to community was Alan's guiding principle. He was a longtime member of Calmar Community United Methodist Church where he served as the recording secretary and wrote a monthly newsletter for many years. His baritone voice was prominent during hymns. In Fort Atkinson, he served as a volunteer firefighter (18 years) and was a member of the Friends of Fort Atkinson Rendezvous Committee, Museum Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, and Centennial Book Committee. Alan also partnered with the Office of the State Archeologist and served as a Project Director of several archaeological investigations of the Turkey River Winnebago Indian Subagency Site.
After retiring, Alan coordinated an annual School Day in conjunction with the Fort Atkinson Rendezvous Days. A teacher at heart, he trained volunteers (including community members and his family) to lead educational tours of the military post. Wearing his skunk hat and carting around tubs of artifacts, Alan and LuAnne visited 80 schools to present on the historic Fort (2001-2011).
Alan and LuAnne led the "Backpack Program" with Northeast Iowa Food Bank to assemble and deliver backpacks of weekend food to local schools (2007-2015). They led a Weaving Bee program where volunteers wove 100 plastic sleeping mats (2017-2024). Alan faithfully came prepared to share several jokes with the volunteers during their coffee break.
Alan and LuAnne were recognized with the Turkey Valley Friends of Education award, South Winneshiek Friends of Education award, KWWL TV Someone You Should Know Award, and the Governor's Volunteer Award for outstanding contribution of volunteer service. In 2021, Alan was inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame for his leadership in archaeological, historic preservation for more than 30 years.
Above all else was his family. Alan enjoyed volunteering, car rides, visiting his favorite restaurants, and playing Yahtzee with LuAnne. He encouraged his daughters in their athletic, musical, and service activities. More recently, he loved supporting his grandchildren in their activities.
He was an amazing man and positively impacted many lives throughout his years teaching and giving back to the community. Alan is survived by his wife, LuAnne; daughters Karla (Nicholas) Wysocki of Rochester, MN, Angela (Scott) Becker Kudelka of St. Paul, MN, and Lisa (Steven McGinley) Becker of St. Charles, MN; his sister, Betty (Marvin) Wulf of Booneville, MO; and grandchildren Jaden, Shaun, Iris, and Leo.