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Ray W. Beckman
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Ray W. Beckman, age 80, of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, died Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital.

Ray was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on May 19, 1928, the son of Ray L. and Lucille (Selck) Beckman. He graduated from Monroe High School in 1946 and attended Beloit College. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1946 until 1948. On February 9, 1950, Ray married Carolyn Vogel in Dubuque, Iowa. Ray worked at Bruni Miller in Monroe for seven years and then became a salesman for Butler Manufacturing in Fort Atkinson for 34 years, retiring in May 1990. Ray was a member of the Monona Oaks Community Church in Madison and was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

Surviving are: his wife: Carolyn Beckman, Fort Atkinson, WI; sons: William R. (Shari) Beckman, Madison, WI, Robert R. (Jan) Beckman, Bend, Oregon, and Richard R. (Kathy) Beckman, Michigan; daughters, Julia R. (Robert) McKenzie, Jefferson, WI, and Lynn R. (Steven) Bussan, Grand Meadow, MN; 17 grandchildren: Miya, Kiarra, Emily, Skye, Starr, Savannah, Elizabeth, Shannon, Parker, Noah, Olivia, Isaiah, Nathanael, Rebekah, Stephanie, Melanie and Isaac; sisters: Judith (Frank) Gerber, Waupun, WI, and Elaine Ott, Iowa; and brother-in-law: George Gramling, Columbus, OH.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Janet Gramling.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2008, at the Monona Oaks Community Church, 6200 Monona Drive, Madison, WI with Rev. William Bartz officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

The Nitardy Funeral Home of Fort Atkinson is assisting the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Monona Oaks Community Church.