William Boaz Beer

BEER, William Boaz
Kalamazoo Mr. Beer passed away Monday evening, February 4, 2008 at The Springs at Bronson Place. He was born January 1, 1926 in Helena, Montana the son of the late Robert and Lorena Maxey Beer. On September 3, 1949, he was united in marriage to the late Lillian Joyce Childress in Pittsburgh, PA; their marriage was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on August 14, 1968. William served faithfully for many years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as a Branch President, on several High Councils, and in other assignments. He loved to play golf, garden, sing with the choir, and be with his family. He was an Eagle Scout, and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He was a veteran of the United States Army, and received a medical discharge in 1944. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and worked for more than 30 years with Dravo Corporation. He traveled extensively in the US and abroad during that time, working on infrastructure projects such as the Morgantown Lock and Dam in West Virginia, Taconite Harbor in Minnesota, Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona, and a liquefied natural gas project in Lagos Nigeria. He was included in a patent for an improved concrete bucket, and patented other innovations as well. He later worked as a consultant with Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation, and then as an independent HVAC engineering consultant. In September of 2000, William and Joyce moved to Kalamazoo from Clarksburg, West Virginia. Surviving are their 4 children, David Joyce Beer of Chicago, IL, Robin James VanderRoest of Kalamazoo, Lorena Wilson of Morgantown, WV, and Paul Rachelle Beer of Taipei, Taiwan; 16 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 nephews, Robert and Jeff Beer; and 1 sister-in-law, Mary Alice Beer of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. Preceding him in death are his parents; his wife, Joyce on June 13, 2001; and 2 brothers, Robert and John Beer. Funeral services for Mr. Beer will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints University Branch Building, 910 W. Main St., with Bishop James E. VanderRoest presiding. Interment will follow in Mt. Ever-Rest North Park. Friends may visit with the family from 6-8 PM on Friday tomorrow at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick Street. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ.