Dr. James L. Beal

James (Jamie) was born on August 28, 1921 in Wyandotte, Michigan to Rolla L. and Lena R. (Kircher) Beal. He died at his home in West Des Moines on April 11, 2014. The family will greet friends at a memorial gathering from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at The Lodge of Ashworth, 909 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines. A private graveside service has taken place at Resthaven Cemetery.

After graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, James enlisted in the US Army and served in the Air Corps during World War II in England, Germany and France. He returned to the United States shortly after the war ended and enrolled in Michigan State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He went on to medical school and in 1951, obtained the Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Des Moines Still College of Osteopathy and Surgery (now Des Moines University).

While attending Still College, James met Wanda Hallock of West Des Moines and the two were married on January 28, 1949 in her parents’ home. James and Wanda enjoyed more than 52 years together, until her death on September 26, 2001.

Dr. Beal served an internship at McLaughlin Osteopathic Hospital in Lansing, Michigan and a residency in pathology at Art Centre Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He was a Board Certified pathologist at Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital in Tulsa, Art Centre Hospital and Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. He was a member of the American Osteopathic Association and the American Osteopathic College of Pathologists. He retired in 1980. He and Wanda made their retirement homes first in West Des Moines, then Bradenton, Florida, then Stuart, Iowa and finally at The Lodge of Ashworth, moving there in 1999.

James was a lifelong learner and many fields of study interested him, in addition to the science of medicine. He studied law, photography, the US presidents, movies and other forms of entertainment. He was particularly interested in Broadway shows and the celebrities performing in them. He was most interested in music and became quite proficient in playing nearly all the woodwind and stringed instruments.

Preceding James in death were Wanda, his parents, his sister Edith, his brother Gerald and his niece, Linda Anderson. He is survived by nieces Juli (Jon) Robinson of Jackson, MI; Nancy (Alain) Bernigaud of Norman, OK; Carrie (Russell) Szwabowski of St. Joseph, MI; Corinne (Bob) Walker of Ocala, FL and Kathie (Mark) Lutter of West Des Moines and nephews John (Kathleen) Bagley of Omaha, NE; Steven (Deborah) Beal of San Raphael, CA; Ronald (Sue) Hallock of West Des Moines; and Larry Anderson of West Des Moines. His long time caregiver, Lisa Lutter of West Des Moines, held a special place in James’ life.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be given to the West Des Moines Community School District Student Scholarship Fund (for music student scholarships), c/o McLaren’s Funeral Chapel, 801 19th Street,

West Des Moines, IA 50265.