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Permanent LinkSenator Elmer K. Bekman View All Years
ELMER K. BEKMAN
Mr. President: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Elmer K. Bekman, begs leave to submit the following memorial:
Elmer K. Bekman was born at Alton in Sioux County, Iowa, on August 18, 1900, the son of John and Cornelia Bekman. He graduated from Alton High School.
He received officer’s training at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry in World War I. He attended the University of Iowa where he received a bachelor of arts degree in 1921 and bachelor of laws degree in 1923. Mr. Bekman was then admitted to the bar and engaged in the general practice of law in Ottumwa in Wapello County. For three terms, from 1927 to 1932, he was elected to serve as Wapello County Attorney. He was a member of the Iowa State and Wapello County Bar Associations.
On June 18, 1924, he married Grace E. Redfield of Mason City in Cerro Gordo County. They had one daughter, Louise Bekman Larew, who now lives in Iowa City.
Mr. Bekman was first elected to the Iowa Senate in November, 1938. He served in the Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth Extraordinary, Fifty-first, Fifty-second, Fifty-second Extraordinary, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth General Assemblies. While a member of the General Assembly he was chairman of the Social Security, Judiciary and Insurance Committees. In his long service as a legislator, Senator Bekman also served as a member of many other committees and was instrumental in the adoption of important legislation. He was also a member of the Pioneer Lawmakers Association.
Mr. Bekman was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa, the past president of the Wapello County Historical Association, a former trustee for Parsons College in Fairfield, a former board member of the Westminster Foundation in Iowa City, and a member of Barracks 1510 of World War I Veterans.
He died at Ottumwa on January 29, 1976, at the age of 75 and is survived by his wife and daughter, three grandchildren, one brother and one sister.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-sixth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Elmer K. Bekman, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the Senate by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service to his community, state and nation and tender its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.
Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate, and that the Secretary of the Senate be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
GENE W. GLENN, Chairperson
FORREST V. SCHWENGELS
BASS VAN GILST
Committee
The resolution was unanimously adopted.