Longtime Palisadian Robert ‘Bob’ Beck, Sr. passed away on November 7. He was 83. Born on May 19, 1921, Beck grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, graduated from Iowa City High School in 1939 and attended the University of Iowa until he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He served as a Navy pilot and flight instructor from 1942 to 1945 and saw action in the South Pacific as a carrier-based fighter pilot. Beck married Susan Ann Peterson in 1943, and two children were born to them’Bob Jr. in 1945 and Betty in 1947. After the war, he returned to the University of Iowa and graduated with a B.S. degree in commerce in 1947. Based in Iowa and Minnesota, Beck worked primarily in the insurance industry and rose to executive positions with Blue Cross-Blue Shield and Bankers Life during his careers with both companies. Divorced in 1968, he joined Johnson & Higgins and moved to Los Angeles where he met the ‘sunshine’ of his new life, Jan Wisman. He remained with Johnson & Higgins until retirement in 1983 and with Jan for the rest of his life. Beck enjoyed retirement immensely. He played as much tennis as he could squeeze in, enjoyed traveling, and delighted in spending time with Jan and close friends, both old and new. A memorial service was held on December 11 at the Palisades Presbyterian Church.
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