Charles S. Beckingham

Rev. Charles S. Beckingham, 87, of Moline, IL, died Monday, October 28, 2013, at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Moline, Moline, IL.

Funeral Services with Rev. Don Knowles presiding will be held at 11 a.m. with a visitation one hour prior to the service on Friday, November 1, 2013, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2900 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, IL. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 2013, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline. Burial will be at National Cemetery at Rock Island Arsenal with military honors provided by Moline American Legion Post # 246. Memorials may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church, Matherville Community Church, or to Heartland Hospice.

Chuck was born on January 13, 1926, in Rock Island, IL, the son of Harry A. and Minnie Pearl (Kabel) Beckingham. He attended Moline High School and graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island. Chuck served in the United States Navy during WWII from 1943 to 1947. He married Lorraine G. Steen on December 27, 1949, in Moline, IL.

Rev. Beckingham was ordained in the Augustana Synod on June 22, 1958. He organized Bethany Lutheran Church in Lyons, NE, during his internship. Rev. Beckingham served parishes in Saron Lutheran Church in Saronville, NE, St. James in Edgar, NE, Messiah Lutheran Church in Newberry, MI, Salem Lutheran Church in Bark River, MI, and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mukwonago, WI. He retired in 1982. He was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Moline, participated in Via De Christo, and preached weekly at the Matherville Community Church for several years.

Rev. Beckingham was a Chaplain and member of the honor guard for the Moline American Legion Post # 246. He loved to preach the Gospel, to fish, watch football, and was a big fan of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. Above all, he loved his family very much and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Beckingham of Moline, IL; daughter, Deborah Mellgren of Oshkosh, WI; grandsons, Scott (Jenny) Mellgren, Shawn (Shannon) Mellgren, Mark Mellgren, and Ross Mellgren, all of Oshkosh, WI; 9 Great grandchildren; sister-in-Law, Shirley I. Lofgren of Moline, IL; and several nieces & nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Larry Mellgren; twin sister, Ruth Kenney; sisters, Bethel Gipson and Leona Daymude.

Online condolences may be left for his family by visiting esterdahl.com.