George Beck

George “Dick” Beck, 79, Finland, died Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in St. Luke’s Hospital, with Dennis and Shelley at his side.

He was born on October 13, 1936 to George J. and Beatrice Beck in Taunton, MA.  George grew up in Norton, MA and served in the US Military Police from 1954-1955, and the US Army until 1959.  In 1961, he was captured in Havana Harbor and served 24 months of a 30-year sentence in a Cuban prison.  He moved to Finland in 1976 where he met and married Shirley Nelson and worked construction and later drove for Clair Nelson Trucking.  In 1987, they moved to Florida where he worked as a machinist for 20 years.  Upon retirement, they moved back to Finland in 2007.

He enjoyed fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, private security work, car shows, 4-wheeling, and morning coffee with his friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley in 2012; a son, George Beck; a sister, Pat Morris; and a brother, Bob Beck.

Dick is survived by a step-son, Dennis (Shelley) Nelson of Finland; a step-daughter, Vickie (Gary) Frye of Hayward, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Tanner and Cory Schlotthauer and Tasia (Quint) Ashton; great-grandchildren, Skylair and Mason Schlotthauer, and Sunny Ashton; a sister, Donna Sanborn of Las Vegas; sister-in-law, Denise Beck of Pawtucket, RI; and his beloved dog, Bear.

Services will be held at 1 PM Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the Clair Nelson Center in Finland.