Steven Craig Beckman

Steven Craig Beckman of Highlands Ranch, Colorado passed away December 25, 2014. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jeanne; daughter Kristi (Andy Amick); son Craig; grandsons Tyler and Logan Amick and Peyton Beckman; sister Frances (Karl Schwenk); brother-in-law Jim Cooper; nephew David Schwenk (Amy); niece Janel Smith; two great nephews Conner and Brecken Smith. Steve was born April 1, 1945 in Rockford Illinois to Gordon and Margaret Beckman. His parents moved to Loves Park, Illinois shortly after his birth. Steve attended elementary school, junior high school, and high school in Loves Park. He participated in sports at every level of school and by the time he reached Harlem High School he concentrated on basketball, track, and cross country. As a senior he was co-captain of both the basketball team and the cross country team. Steve was an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. At the age of 14 he began a summer intern program with Woodward Governor; a company that makes governors for ships, planes and dams such as those used at Hoover Dam. Steve started on the yard crew and every summer advanced to a different level and department. He learned how to run every machine in the machine shop, worked in the Drafting department and finally the Engineering department. As a sophomore in college, Steve was one of four interns chosen to work in Woodward's facilities in Amsterdam. He worked for Woodward's two more summers. Steve attended Colorado State University, majoring in Electrical Engineering. He also played freshman basketball at CSU as a ""walk on."" Steve was invited to play for the team as a sophomore without a scholarship. He realized that he could not take as many Engineering classes as he needed to finish school in four years while playing varsity basketball. As a result, he made the decision to stick with Engineering but he never really gave up basketball. He continued to play basketball with recreation leagues until he was 55 and a bad back sidelined him. Steve received his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from CSU in 1967 and began work on his Master's in Electrical Engineering at the University of Colorado. During his last quarter at CSU he met Jeanne and they were married 9 months later on July 19, 1968. Steve had committed to joining the Air Force when he had completed his Master's Degree and at the end of his second semester at CU he received a draft notice from the army. It looked like he would not be able to finish his Master's degree. The Air Force said he could enter Officer's Training School (OTS) immediately and that satisfied the Army. Steve completed OTS as a distinguished graduate in June 1969 and was offered the chance to go back to graduate school and finish his Master's Degree. The only catch was he would have to pay back the year it would take with three years in the Air Force in addition to the original four years he had signed up for. He agreed to the seven year commitment. Steve graduated with a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from CU and within weeks began his first assignment in the Air Force with the Air Force Communications Service (AFCS) at Richards Gebaur Air Force Base in Missouri. He evaluated microwave relay sites that went mountain top to mountain top. Steve established a school at Richards Gebaur to teach technicians how to evaluate microwave relay sites, which were used before satellite communications. Teams would go to remote mountaintops in Europe, for example, and calibrate the equipment that was used and make sure it met specifications. The teams were part of a group that was called ""Scope Creek."" Steve designed the curriculum and was the first Commandant of the Scope Creek School. It was so successful that he was visited by Senator Margaret Chase Smith and later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his work. Steve was also a detachment commander in Menorca, Spain where a microwave relay site was located. His final assignment was in data services in Montgomery, Alabama. After 9 years in the Air Force, Steve resigned his commission as Captain and began a new career at IBM which continued for 30 years. He worked with communications between servers, and later between servers and personal computers (PCs). He designed wireless communication systems for hospitals and RFID systems for large trucking firms and department stores. He developed and taught classes for customers as well. Steve's last business card for IBM Global Services explains his position as: IT Consultant, Integrated Tech Services, Networking and Connectivity. He retired from IBM in 2008. Steve had a brief hiatus from IBM in the late 1990's when he started his own consulting firm and later worked for Integrated Medical Systems (IMS). His focus at IMS was developing a new type of network that would connect doctors and pharmacies. IMS was bought out by Eli Lilly during this time and the network that Steve helped develop became WebMD.com. There was a great deal of traveling in every job Steve had but he never let it interfere with being a wonderful father and husband. He coached Craig's soccer and basketball teams. He created a database for Kristi's high school band to use for trips which was still being used when Craig was a member. Steve attended every game and parade that either of them marched in, and never missed a band concert. He loved all types of music: Rock'N Roll, Big Band, Country, 50's, 60's, 70's, even 80's. Music was always a big part of his life. Steve had a very dry sense of humor and loved puns and any play on words. He had the best smile. Even as his illness increased, his smile would light up the room. He will be missed greatly by everyone who knew him and loved him. Funeral services will held on Friday, January 2, 2015, 10:00am, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 E. County Line Rd., Centennial. Interment will follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association, Colorado Chapter, 455 Sherman Street #500, Denver, CO 80203. Please share your memories of Steve and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.