John Beckel, age 96, formerly of Austin, MN passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
John was born April 23, 1928, in Austin, MN to John G. “Jack” and Stella (Thompson) Beckel.
He grew up in Austin, MN and married Janis Farnsworth on January 7, 1950. They lived in Austin until 1971 when they moved to Baudette, MN where they entered the resort business with his brother, Dwain and sons.
During the resort years he obtained his commercial pilots license and would fly patrons up across the lake to fish on the ice in the winter. In later years he and son, Tom would open TJ Prop shop where he worked until in his 90’s, pounding props and welding.
He was very instrumental in the promotion of snowmobiling in northern Minnesota with his work on connecting trails east and west through the creation of the John Beckel Northern Connection Trail. He was also very active in Ducks Unlimited and was the chairman of the local chapter for many years.
John was an avid sportsman and spent many happy hours hunting and fishing with family and friends. From hunting deer, ducks, grouse and geese locally, to moose in the wilds of Canada, elk in Wyoming, and even squirrels in Southern Minnesota, John loved it all. A particular favorite was goose hunting and he made annual trips to Manitoba with son, Tom, son-in-law’s, grandsons, other family and friends to hunt geese. He loved to fish for walleyes, northerns and muskies on Lake of the Woods, as well as salmon in Alaska, and Marlin in the Caribbean Sea. He not only enjoyed trips with the boys, but fished salmon and lake trout with his daughters, Sue, Deb and Chris on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, as well as an exciting trip rafting the Colorado River through Grand Canyon in 1993.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Janis, his parents, Jack and Stella Beckel, sister, Veronica Nelson, four brothers, Bud Beckel, Richard Beckel, Dwain Beckel, and David Beckel, and brother-in-law, James Steven Farnsworth.
He is survived by four children, Susan Sathre (Thomas Fielding) of Austin, MN, Debra Dsouza of Austin, MN, Christine (Russel) Hansen of Baudette, MN, Thomas (Joyce) Beckel of Baudette, MN; sister-in-law, Anglia (James Steven) Farnsworth of Gwinn, MI.
He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Steven, Sarah, Jennifer, William, Michael, Marinda, Elaina, Katie, Kevin and nineteen great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be scheduled for a future date.
Last modified: 05/22/2024
