4/23/1925 – 2/16/2017
Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years and 16 days, Mary Lou (Nelson) Beck; Grandparents: Alexander U. and Mary A. Beck; Parents: Henry L. and Lillian M. Beck; Sister: Shirley Ann Beck; Grandson: Robert N. Azer. Survived by Sons: Henry D. Beck, Robert A. Beck, and David L. Beck; Daughters: Catherine S. Azer, Mary A. Safarik, and Margaret L. Slater; 11 Grandchildren and 14 Great-grandchildren. Born and raised in Omaha into the Beck family of a prominent Omaha Building Contractor. Attended Omaha Central High School, was active in all Classroom Studies, in ROTC, the Commander of the 1943 Flag Company, and on the Stage Crew as the Head Electrician for 4 years, graduating as a member of the National Honors Society and received the World Herald Scholarship in 1943. He enlisted, prior to graduation and his 18th birthday, in the US Naval Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet V5. At the close of the war and his service flying in the Naval Air Corps, he enrolled at Iowa State College, graduating in 1948. While in college, he married his Omaha sweetheart, Mary Lou Nelson, who at that time, was also a student at Iowa State. He was under contract, prior to graduation, with the School District of Omaha, to return to Omaha to teach at Central High School and to become Director of School House Construction for the District. During his 20 years of service with the school district, he created the Educational Design Requirements and the Construction Documents for the Architect for each new facility, and also inspected in detail the construction of 23 new Elementary, 10 Junior, and 1 Senior High School buildings, and the additions to 3 existing High Schools and 26 Elementary School facilities. After his 20 year service to the School District, he went into private enterprise work, retiring as a Vice President of a local architecture firm. He was active with their family in their home, school, and church activities, and their travel and camping vacations. He enjoyed working in his wood shop at home, was active in amateur radio activities and in antique car restoration and their operation. He was also active in the Dundee Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon and Trustee. It was at this church, when both were in high school, that he first met Mary Lou, who one day would become his wife, his life, and the ‘main stay’ of their family for 63 years and 16 days.
Visitation Monday 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Roeder Mortuary – 108th Street Chapel; Service 11:00 AM Tuesday (2/21/2017) at Dundee Presbyterian Church 5312 Underwood Avenue Omaha, Nebraska, Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery Omaha, Nebraska
Memorials to the Robb Azer UNO Scholarship Fund or Dundee Presbyterian Church
