Obituary of John Becklin

John Doyle Becklin, 73, of Cambridge passed away on Friday, November 16, 2007 at Unity Hospital in Fridley. He was born August 22, 1934 in Cambridge, Minnesota to Arnold and Helen (Hawkinson) Becklin. John was baptized and confirmed at the Cambridge Lutheran Church. He grew up in Cambridge where he attended grade school and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1952. John worked summers for the railroad as a teen and also helped his father on the home farm. In 1957 he began working at the Cambridge State Hospital and worked there until 1991 when he retired. On August 31, 1957 he was united in marriage to Joyce Nystrom at the Cambridge Lutheran Church. In 1963 they made their home west of town where they raised their two children. John was a lifetime member of the Cambridge Lutheran Church. He played amateur baseball, fast pitch softball and also played in church basketball league. He enjoyed gardening and would grow pumpkins for all the local kids to enjoy every Halloween. He was an avid sports fan and liked watching sports and attending sporting events; he especially enjoyed following the local high school teams. John loved animals and enjoyed watching all the wildlife around his home. John loved visiting and having friends over for coffee. He enjoyed going to the casino to play blackjack, but had more fun visiting and meeting the different people there, John was one to always make new friends and acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joyce Stensrud and brother in law Rodell Stensrud. John is survived by his wife Joyce of Cambridge, son Doug and wife Colleen Becklin of Cambridge, daughter Kari Becklin and special friend Brad Olson of Isanti, two grandsons John Grabenbauer of Cambridge, and Chad Grabenbauer of Isanti, five great grandchildren Mariah, Makalyn, Austin, Carter and Lucas, niece Heidi Gustafson of Burnsville, aunt Ardelle Stanius of Minneapolis, as well as several other relatives and friends.