SYRACUSE – William M. “Bill” Beemer, 86, of Syracuse, died Dec. 26, 2012, in IU Goshen Hospital. He was born April 4, 1926, in Plumtree, to Oral and Irene McCourg Beemer. On Aug. 14, 1949, in Plumtree, he married Barbara Keplinger, who survives in Syracuse. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran serving from 1944 to 1946. He moved to Lake Wawasee fulltime in 1961. He was a manufacturing rep. for many years as well as president of Beemer Enterprises. He was a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church. He was president of the Syracuse Museum, Fort Wayne Mizpah Shrine, Scottish Rite and 32 degree mason, past commodore of the Wawasee Flotilla, past commander of the Huntington VFW, Syracuse American Legion, and president of the Sesquicentennial in 1987. Also surviving are two daughters, Constance (and spouse Steven) Nitsch, Kalamazoo, Mich., and Cindi (and spouse Jeff) Wells, Syracuse; five grandchildren: Emily, Andrew, and Alan Nitsch, and Leighton and Cassandra Wells. He was preceded in death by one granddaughter-in-law, Amanda “Mandi” Wells and one great-granddaughter, Abigail Juliana “A.J.” Wells. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Eastlund Funeral Home. Burial will be Monday at Markle Cemetery with military honors. Calling is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to Syracuse Museum or the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund. Condolences may be sent via eastlundfuneralhome.com
