Visitation will be 3:00-5:00 PM Friday, August 25 at Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church.
Funeral services will be held 5:00 PM Friday, August 25 at Triumphant Cross with Robert Brannon, officiating. Final internment will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery at a later date.
Ron was born in Davenport, Iowa to Charles and Betty (Stickrod) Beck on May 30, 1941. He married Judy (Angstrom) on June 9, 1962, in Davenport Iowa. He earned a bachelor’s degree (1969), a master’s degree (1970) and a Ph.D in mechanical engineering (1972) from University of Iowa all while working as mechanical engineering technician at the Rock Island arsenal in Moline Il. The family moved to Michigan in 1972 where he began his career as a young engineer with a Ph.D. in control system theory and engineering mechanics at TACOM. He retired after 32 years as Associate Director for Simulation within the United States Army National Automotive Center of TACOM-TARDEC. He was a veteran of Vietnam and served in the Navy and was awarded the commander’s award for civilian service by the department of the Army. He belonged to Grosse Pointe Masonic Lodge 584, National Science Foundation, Sigma XI, Scientific Research Society, American Society of Engineers, Theta Tau, PiTau Sigma, VFW Bruce post, and the American Legion. He has authored or co-authored more than sixty-five government reports, conference proceedings, open literature publications, book chapters and magazine articles in the fields of multi-body dynamics, mobility, control and estimation theory, modeling and simulation over his career with Army R&D and academic institutions. He was awarded a patent in 1976 for his work to develop the “Force Feedback Controlled Winch”. He was a patriot and dedicated his life to his country, receiving numerous letters of appreciation and awards and honors throughout his career.
Ron is preceded in death by his siblings Jannette (Thomas) Hower, and Douglas (Debbie) Beck.
Ron is survived by his wife Judy, children Kimberly (Tom) Todebush, Matthew (Pauline) Beck, Sister-In-Law Debbie (Douglas) Beck, Grandchildren Sydney Beck, Evan Todebush, Hannah Beck, Alexander Todebush, Sarah Todebush, Emily (Garrett) Arwa, Elliott Todebush and Great Grand Child Bernie Kochis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or special offering may be made to the Triumphant Cross electronic sign fund.
Arrangements entrusted to Kaul Funeral Home St. Clair Shores Chapel.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kaul-fh.com for the Beck family.
