Robert Harry Beam
(February 25, 1941 - June 14, 2011)
Robert Harry Beam
Age 70 of St. Louis, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Alma.
Robert was born February 25, 1941 in Detroit the son of Harry and Belle (Boyce) Beam. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1962 until his honorable discharge in 1966. Robert worked as a Detroit Police Officer for 10 years before, moving to Gratiot County to work as a Direct Support Professional at Pine River Adult Foster Care in St. Louis, retiring in 2007. He volunteered with the American Red Cross as a Certified Instructor.
Robert is survived by his close friends, Shawnie (Dave Coffin) Simon, Joseph Best, Billie Jo Best and Jenny Vereb all of St. Louis.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Lux Funeral Home, St. Louis
Ken Barna
Bob and I met on the reserve football team in the tenth grade. We shared a few classes together, but the one I remember most was Physics. We had Mr. Blasyk, and were supposed to be figuring the forces of a car going up a ramp or hill, but Bob and I were letting the car go down the ramp and across the lab table. When Mr. Blasyk saw what we were doing he came over to our table, and took a meter stick and pounded the table to get everyone's attention. After everyone stopped what they were doing, and looked our way, he proceeded to tell everyone what brilliant physicists Barna and Beam were and what we had accomplished.
I was never so embarrassed. When we left class, Bob and I just laughed about it. That's what I remember about Bob. He was always fun to be with, and we laughed most of the time. I don't remember if Bob was at our tenth reunion, and if he was, that was the last time I saw him.
Richard Hammer
Bob and I were friends when we were 14-15 years old, living just a block apart on Kentfield. He was a fun guy, always doing some stuff for laughs. I remember him sending Christmas cards and signing them "Robert H. Beam, ESQ." That didn't go over well with his parents. I lost track of him when I started working in 1957. I was quite amazed when I heard he wanted to be a minister-that would have been a "fun" church!
Dick Hammer
Yvonne Gorak (Centala)
Jokes and laughter: that was Bob Beam. Though I did not know him well, we were in a few classes over the years, always chuckling. What I remember most is art class when he picked up the end of my long pony tail and pretended to cut it. Then he did. He thought it was hilarious. After a few seconds of shock, I thought so, too, so the rest of the kids at our table joined in the laughter.