95 year-old Wayne City resident, Robert C. Beehn, died at 5:35 p.m. February 3, at Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Before his retirement in 1987, Bob was manager of Southern Illinois Lumber Company in Wayne City for over 40 years. He later came out of retirement and worked at the lumber company until he was 92 years old. He was a member of the Wayne City First United Methodist Church. He was also a Boy Scout leader, was on the school board and the town board, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge and American Legion. He also served on the board of directors for the Wayne City First National Bank and Southern Illinois Lumber Company. He was a charter member of the Wayne City Ruritan Club and was named Ruritan of the Year. Bob was also a veteran of the U.S. Army as he served in World War II from February 1943 to December 1945 in the 103rd Infantry Division and served in France, Germany, and Austria.
He is survived by two sons, Michael (Judy) Beehn of Bluford and David (Cherita) Beehn of Wayne City; daughter Margaret (James) Smith of Wayne City; step-daughter Kathy (Keele) McKinney and family of Irvington; grandsons Michael (Hayley) Beehn of Arrington, Tennessee; Christopher (Paula) Beehn of Wayne City; Andrew (Elizabeth) Smith of Salem; granddaughters Melanie (Andrew) Gary of Lake St. Louis, Missouri and Carrie (Ryan) Tucker of Wayne City; thirteen great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Satira Beehn of Kountze, Texas and Denise Beehn of Cisne; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, February 6, at the First United Methodist Church in Wayne City as Reverend Elton Storey will officiate. Visitation will be held from 9:30 until the time of service. Burial services with military rites will be at 2 p.m. at the Moravian Cemetery in West Salem, Illinois.
Memorials may be made to the Wayne City First United Methodist Church and will be accepted at the Richardson Funeral Home in Wayne City. The Richardson Funeral Home in Wayne City is in charge of all the arrangements.