Elmer J. Beckmeyer, 94, of Centralìa died at 10:25 pm. Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Centralia Manor.

He was born Feb. 14, 1919, in Hoyleton, son of Charles and Carrie (Vogt) Beckmeyer, He married
Mildred C. Krietemeyer on June 13, 1942, in St. Louis, and she preceded him in death on February 11, 2011.

Mr. Beckmeyer is survived by a daughter, Diane Rueter of rural Carlyle; two grandsons, Brian
Rueter and wife Mary of rural Carlyle, and Darin Rueter and wife Jana of Hoyleton;  step-great-
grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife of 69 years, Mr. Beckmeyer was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Larvin Rueter, 2 brothers Rudie Beckmeyer and Raymond Beckmeyer and 1 sister Esther Klie.

Mr. Beckmeyer was a member of St. Peter United Church of Christ in Centralia, Illinois where he served on the church council for two terms and one year.  He also sang in the church choir in the 1950's and 1960's.  He formerly was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ in Hoyleton, Illinois.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II for three years and ten months.  He served with the 36th Combat Engineers Battalion in North Africa, Sicily and Anzio Beachhead, Italy, Southern France, Germany, Austria and was wounded in the Naples area.

After the war, Mr. Beckmeyer worked as an auto machinist at Linkons Auto Supply machine shop in Centralia, Illinois for 38 years until his retirement in 1984.  He has lived his whole life in Centralia, Illinois.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home in Centralia with the Reverend Lisa Hart officiating.  Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park near Centralia.  Military honors will be conducted by Centralia VFW Post 2055 and American Legion Post 446.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to St. Peter United Church of Christ in Centralia or the charity of the donor's choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made to the family online at moranfuneralhome@att.net.