Herbert Beer

Memorial

Herbert Frederick Beer, 96 of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Meadowview Memory Care Center. A visitation will be held on Monday April 5, 2021 at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel from 5-7 p.m.  A private service will be held for the family.  Burial will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Homestead, Iowa. “Following the continued guidance from health officials, physical distancing must be practiced which requires a limited number of people allowed into the visitation at one time. The use of facemasks or shields is required.”

Herbert was born on June 25, 1924 in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil to Otto and Lena (Blume) Beer, who were Lutheran Missionaries.  After 10- year commitment, the family returned to the United States and lived in Springfield, Illinois until his father became the pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Homestead.  Herbert attended parochial school over there, then graduated from Marengo High School.  He began studying to be a minister like his father, however, that was not to be.  He obtained a position with Iowa Bearing & Company and worked there until his retirement in 1982.  In 1951, he married Amanda Hagen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Homestead.  In 1959, they adopted their first infant daughter, Christine Marie, followed in 1963 by the adoption of another infant daughter, Catherine Esther.  Herbert was a long-time member of trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.

He is survived by his daughters, Christine (Kevin) Wadle, Cathy (Matt) Wyatt; three grandchildren, Anthony Westbrook of Cedar Rapids, Rachael (Jason) O’Connell of Peoria, Illinois, Jason Wadle of Peoria, Illinois; Great-Grandson, Jameson O’Connell of Peoria, Illinois; brother, Martin Beer of Iowa City; sisters, Sylvia Taulbee of St. Paul, Minnesota, Lois Dunnavent of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents, wife Amanda, infant son Herbert Jr., and sister Dorothea who died in infancy, Helen Sandersfeld, Paula Sandersfeld, Norma Mollison, and Esther Sandersfeld.

The family would like to thank everyone at Meadowview memory Care Center for the excellent care that was provided. 

Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids or St. John’s Lutheran Church in Homestead