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David Beck Obituary
Father David John Beck, age 75, of Carthagena, Ohio, passed away June 27, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was vacationing. He was born September 26, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio to Frank and Virginia (Lesniewicz) Beck, both life-long residents of the Toledo area.
He attended St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo where he played center on the offensive line for the football team. After graduating high school in 1959 he entered Saint Meinrad Seminary, Indiana, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy. He then completed his seminary formation at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary, Cincinnati. He was ordained May 27, 1967, exactly 50 years and one month prior to his passing.
In addition to his seminary degrees, Father Beck also earned Master's degrees from Xavier University in Cincinnati and Loyola of Chicago.
Affectionately known to most as "Father Dave," he served the Toledo Diocese in many urban and rural parishes ministering to both English and Spanish-speaking parishioners. Over the years, these parishes included St. John Parish, Defiance; Immaculate Conception Parish, Port Clinton; Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Toledo; St. Joseph Parish, Paulding; Immaculate Conception Parish, Cecil; St. Patrick Parish, Bryan; St. Mary Parish, Bluffton; St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lima; St. Mary Parish, Toledo; St. Michael Parish, Toledo; St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Findlay; St. Jude Parish, Toledo; and St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Lima. He was granted Senior Priest Status in 2009.
Father Dave loved to travel around the globe to share God's message, explore different places, learn new cultures and meet people who would become life-long friends. He was always looking forward to his next trip, whether it was to the East coast, West coast, Memphis, Europe, Mexico or Canada. But, his favorite trips were those to Kenya where he would visit his beloved Assumption Sisters of Nairobi.
Father Dave was an avid reader and loved movies and live shows. His eclectic taste broadened his open mind into different cultures, times and circumstances. He never met a stranger and would do anything to help others, even simply by making them laugh. His authenticity and approachable nature drew others in and opened the door to learning about how God was working in their lives.
St. Charles Senior Living Community in Carthagena, Ohio had been his home since his retirement in 2009.
In addition to his parents, Father Dave was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Beck; sister-in-law, Martha (Preston) Beck; and nieces Meredith (Brad) Kaufman and Megan Beck. He is survived by his brother, Dennis (Patty) Beck; sisters-in-law, Andrea (Clay) Warling and Lilly Beck; nieces Leslie (Jim) Hartigan and Margie (Tarek) Denaika; nephew, Donny (Milly) Beck; and nine great nieces and nephews.
Father Dave was fortunate to be surrounded by special friends who welcomed him into their lives and their families including Del and Josie Smith, Bill and Kitty Hanz, and especially Florian and Susan Smith.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 6, 2017 beginning with Reception of the Body and Evening Prayer at 4:00 pm at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 777 South Main, Lima, Ohio. Visitation will conclude Thursday evening at 8:00 pm. On Friday, July 7, 2017, visitation will held at 9:00 am until the Funeral Mass, which will be celebrated at 11:00 am at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Lima. The Rite of Committal and interment will be held at 4:00 pm at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio. Memorial contributions will be forwarded to the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi. Arrangements were entrusted to H.H. Birkenkamp Funeral Home, 3219 Tremainsville Rd, Toledo, Ohio, 43613 (419-473-1301). Condolences and memories can be shared at
birkenkampfuneralhome.com
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Memories and Condolences
for David Beck
Lula Fields
July 4, 2023
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
LULA Fields
June 26, 2019
miss Father Beck I use to work for him in Lima, Ohio at St.John I was his cook he, enjoy my cooking, so did the other Priests in the area. Rest In Peace.
Deborah Miller-Pultz
August 13, 2017
Fly with the angels. You were the most amazing person. Father you were there for me 45 years ago and our conversations have always been in my heart. I just learned of your death my heart weeps for myself, but is so happy for you to be with the lord.
July 11, 2017
We loved Fr. Dave here in Port Clinton....prayers for the repose of his soul and love to the family.
Joan Hudak IC Port Clinton
Bernie and Brenda Lochotzki
July 8, 2017
When Fr Beck was Assiciate Pastor at Immaculate Conception in Port Clinton, he would come to our house for meals. Always enjoyed those times.
We would like to send our condolences to his family.
Bernie and Brenda Lochotzki
Ronny Crone
July 7, 2017
So sorry for your loss, Father Beck was a great teacher to our family. Your families are in our prayers.
John Wanner
July 6, 2017
A very kind man.
Rick Lesniewicz
July 6, 2017
So dear to so many, David was a dear member of the Lesniewicz family of boys, boys boys, and loved each of them in the cadre of cousins, aunts and uncles .. always there for comfort to offer up funeral Masses for our family losses. Fashbacks of summers in Trilby on the Penelope Lane "farm" come back easily. Canned pickles and corn and exploring the wilds at the dead end of that road in the '50's with over-loaded imaginations of wild animals lurking there to devour us at sunset. Somehow we survived. Detroit Beach and boxing matches and penny ante, quarter limit, poker and long-necks and penny scrambles in the grass...all too long ago when life was so much simpler and nothing wanted.
Now he joins many of them in a place he always embraced to the fullest. He's not sad but leaves us mortals to grieve his loss.
Rest in piece, dear cousin. We miss you.
Lula Fields
July 5, 2017
To the Beck Family sorry to hear of the passing of Father Beck as he was known to me. I work for him when he was in Lima at St. John.
Claudia Achkar
July 5, 2017
Beck family, so sorry for your loss. Our sincere condolences at this time. I will keep you in my prayers for GOD to put his comforting arms around you.
The Achkar's
Memphis, TN
Our last visit at his anniversary in June.
Andrea Warling
July 5, 2017
Uncle David was a character, to say the least,! He loved visiting us every year and spending quality time with family. We will miss our annual visits and taking him to see different sights in Memphis. Still seems surreal to us!! Love you David!!!
July 4, 2017
Fr dave was a part of our family for many years. RIP. (The holcombe family, Lima, oh)
July 4, 2017
RIP, Dave. You were a great friend
Brenda Brittsan
July 4, 2017
RIP Father Beck. You will be greatly missed by many.
Beth Dieringer
July 3, 2017
Sympathy to Denny and the Beck family. Fr Dave will be missed here as he joins family who went before him.
July 3, 2017
Let the peace of God be with your family
The Ritchie Family - Michael, Fr. David, Debra, John, Cathy, Danny, Christine and Father William
July 2, 2017
A great Man with a gentle heart that was always willing to help in any way he could. A Pastor, A Mentor, A Counselor and a Friend. He was very good to The Ritchie Family in many ways, especially during the illness and death of our Mother Hazel. May Perpetual Light Shine Upon You!
Liz Schindler
July 2, 2017
Rest In Peace Fr. David. I'll miss you as my "neighbor friend" here at St. Charles Senior Living Center. You brought joy to all who met you here at St. Charles. Again, Rest In Peace my friend.
Dennis, Donald, David
Denny
July 2, 2017
Rest peacefully, Brother, as we share memories from different sides of Now.
Denise Fett
July 2, 2017
One of my favorite priest that was in Bluffton.
Rev. Thomas Extejt
July 2, 2017
Go with God, cousin - be at peace.
Mary Ann Lee-Price
July 1, 2017
Many memories return when thinking of Fr. Dave. While he was at St. Joseph's Paulding, Ohio he took teens on two different canoe trips. He would often come to pizza at our home on Fridays and visit with our 3 children. He was a devoted and caring person. Rest In Peace. Sincerely, MaryAnn Lee-Price P. S. My son remember his black lab-16 (in Spanish).
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