Joseph J. Beeuwsaert

Joseph James Beeuwsaert, 81, of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Sunday, July 22 , 2012, in his home with family with him.

Visitation is 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Coal Valley. Private family graveside services are Friday morning at Rock Island National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Rock Island County Humane Society.

Joe was born on March 5, 1931, at Moline Public Hospital, to Joseph C. and Mary James Beeuwsaert. He graduated from St. Ambrose Academy in 1949. Joe enlisted in the US Army in 1951, and was stationed in Germany until his discharge in 1954. He completed his AA degree at the former Moline Community College. He married Ellen Thompson and had two daughters, Lori and Lisa. On Dec. 7th, 1967, he married Roberta “Bobbie” (Yohn) Christenson and she brought her two children, Lisa & Jeff to the family. Three years later they added their son Brad to the group.

After his discharge from the Army, Joe took over for his father as Farm Manager for John Deere in Coal Valley. Joe enjoyed working in the field & using all the large equipment. While he was there, he built two nice ponds that were used by Canadian Geese, Mallard Ducks and fish. The ponds were open to many of the Deere employees who also would come out to fish or just enjoy the day.

Because Deere was so generous with equipment, Joe was able to help the village of Coal Valley and build baseball diamonds, help neighbors with snow removal and anyone stuck in any situation. He really enjoyed helping people out. He even grew a bunch of pumpkins for a pumpkin walk at the school carnival. Joe loved working in his yard and enjoyed growing a large garden. Anything to do with outside work was good with him. He enjoyed watching the kids play baseball, softball and anything the grandkids did was perfect.

Joe is survived by his wife, Bobbie; daughters, Lori Moore of Cresco, Iowa, Lisa Glass of West Palm Beach, Florida, Lisa Phillips and her husband John, of Coal Valley, Jeff Christenson and his wife Liz, of Coal Valley, and Brad Beeuwsaert and his wife Pam, of Folsom, California; grandchildren, JJ (Jack) Phillips in the Navy in the Persia Gulf, Allyson Phillips, Emily Phillips, Cory Glass, Geoffrey Moore, Rachel Reid, Suzanne Christenson, Lucien (Luke) Beeuwsaert, and Gianna Beeuwsaert, a brother-in-law, Clint Bennett, of Scottsboro. Alabama; and nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Elizabeth Bennett

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.