Steven E. Beck

Steven E. Beck, 74, of Mechanicsburg, passed away on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at Geisinger Holy Spirit Hospital.

Born to the late Edgar Beck and Melba Binkley Beck, Steve’s extraordinary life began on November 12, 1943 in Freeport, IL. where he was raised by a close-knit community of family and friends. The experience of growing up in this historic time, amongst the ever-shrinking pieces of small-town America, shaped Steve’s perspectives on the importance of family and the need for community.

Surrounded by farm laborers, construction workers, and truck drivers, (many of them veterans of the second World War), Steve’s blue-collar upbringing in Oregon, IL. introduced him to the rigors of hard work which eventually grew into a life-long love of horses.

After graduating high school Steve joined the United States Navy and proudly served six years as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. Aboard the USS Monrovia Steve went on many adventures which included the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the rescuing of American civilians during the Panama riots of 1964. His last two years of service he spent preparing and deploying to the Republic of Vietnam attached to the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines.

After leaving the service in 1968 Steve combined his love of horses with his blue-collar roots and began a career in the equine industry, eventually relocating from the Midwest to Hempt Farms in Central Pennsylvania. Steve would focus the next 24 years of his career on the breeding and raising of Standardbred horses, beginning as a Foaling Man and retiring as Superintendent. His love of horses eventually lead him to the greatest love of his life; his wife, Betty Ann Stubbs.

In the summer of 1971, Steve stumbled before falling in love with Ann. Never a man to waste time Steve proposed to Ann within two weeks of their first date. Ann accepted and in June of 1972 they wed. This marked the beginning of an amazing 46-year adventure of friendship, laughter, and above all, true love. Out of this love Ann and Steve bore and raised two children—twin boys, Craig and Jeff.

Steve’s retirement from Hempt Farms did not mean the end of a prolific career, but the beginning of a new one as he and his wife Ann founded their own Standardbred breeding farm; Anchor Farm in Carlisle, PA. There they shared their love of horses with each other until full retirement in 2006.

An avid collector of baseball memorabilia, a gifted baker, and a veracious reader, Steve spent his retirement pursuing the things that made him most happy while sharing these pursuits with the people he loved most—his family. Steve was a marvelously funny man and an intriguing human being. A son, a brother, friend, father, grandfather, and husband: Steve will be missed by all who knew him.

Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw.

Steve is survived by his loving wife: Betty Ann Beck of Mechanicsburg, twin sons: Craig Beck of York Haven, PA and Jeff Beck and his wife Melissa of Mechanicsburg, six grandchildren: Lily Beck, Victor Beck, Aiden Beck, Maxwell Beck, Eloise Beck and Jackson Beck.

In addition to his parents, Steven was preceded in death by a sister: Barbara Bacus.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church, 2 N. Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday,November 14, 2018, from 10 AM until 11 AM at the Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home Inc.110 So. 7th Street, Oregon, IL 61061. Burial will follow in the West Branch Cemetery, Haldane, Ogle County, Illinois.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Marine Corp League, Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Detachment #524, P. O. Box 1078, Carlisle PA 17013-6078

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 2020 West Trindle Road Carlisle, PA 17013.

To sign the guestbook please visit www.HoffmanFH.com