Irving Beekil Obituary

Having recently driven down grand ave and passing the old store (just east of oakley) I remembered the Beekil brothers store. And going in there with my dad to rummage through all the surplus.

I knew given the passage of time, the brothers might be gone. They were a great pair of characters! People like Harry and Irving are gone, and things just aren't the same.

I remember Irving telling me about the time he came by the house to drop off stuff for my dad - and how my grandmother chased him and his 'junk' back to the truck.

The Beekils sold my dad an electron microscope, a half garage of assorted gizmos that he never got running.

One time there was a mountain of lead blocks there and I climbed over them. On our next visit they were gone - apparently not sold,but taken back by the govt. It seems someone came with a Geiger counter and deemed them unsafe, they were auctioned by accident?!?!

I just wanted to share a few stories while I can still remember them, but I also wanted to share what a great pair of characters Harry and Irving were....

People and places like the store are irreplaceable parts of my childhood, there is nothing like that today, that I could share with my son. Unfortunately.

Condolences to the family,

Tony

I just saw this and remembered Irving well. He used to sell our store (Chicago Army Surplus) army surplus years ago in Downers Grove. Great guy!

We were sad to hear of Irv's passing. Both Irv and Lois were very special people.
From the staff of Hawthorn Lakes

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. To all of you here, Irving was many things…but to me, most importantly he was my Grandpa. I’ve spent the last 22 years getting to know what an amazing person he was…Though, I didn’t always understand Grandpa; I understood that his quirks were what made him who he was.

I remember his “work space”…it was filled to the ceiling full of military surplus…I’m not quite old enough to remember the Beekil Brother’s store front, but I remember the warehouses & my grandma’s porch! When Grandpa would be working in the porch, filling orders or getting ready for a flea market…I loved to sit on the piles of fatigues and watch him, lifting boxes that seemed to be 5 times as big as him…He had these bowling ball muscles that looked like something from a cartoon…I still don’t know how he managed to work the long hours and as hard as he did and still have time to take me to the park, go for walks or go for ice cream…

I remember walking to the Baskin Robins for ice cream after dinner…I’d always wanted the double scoop, but he’d always persuade me to settle for a single. Years later, he finally admitted he was just too cheap to get a double. But that was him...

My Grandpa had an odd way of showing he cared, he’d often say it with poking fun…Jokes were always being thrown about my painting abilities (or as he said, my lack thereof...haha), my clothing style and occasionally my life’s choices…But I always knew he loved me…There was always that smile on his face & a kiss for my cheek when these conversations started and ended.

I’m so happy that he got to see me return to school, which was always my grandma’s wish and got to see my handwork payoff with straight A’s and perfect attendance.

I cherish every moment we had together…I’ll always remember the “20 sick sheep joke”, painting together, our private talks, and of course all our smiles. My future family was honored and lucky enough to have spent time with my Grandpa; they could spend hours talking about just about anything. Steve and I shared many lunches, Sunday brunches and hang-out time at his apartment. Plenty of hours were spent together talking about everything from the UFC to his opinion of things that happened during World War 2. When the time comes that Steve and I get married, I find comfort in the fact of knowing that I will be spending the rest of my life with somebody I know he approved of.

Grandpa, I’m so glad that you’re not suffering…I’m so glad that you can finally see Grandma, I know how much you missed her! The holidays won’t be the same, but I know that you will both be spending those together & watching over all of us…Please give Grandma a huge hug for me, I’ve missed her terribly… I know Tommy was not lucky enough to get as many years with you and grandma as I did, but rest assured I will do my best to make sure he remembers just how special you both were and how much he was loved. I love you, Grandpa…Please know that I miss you, already…

Like a bird singing in the rain, let grateful memories survive in time of sorrow.

To all family, all our thoughts and prayers are with you

To all the family, my thoughts and prayers are with you today. x

Dear Family of Irving Beekil,

I am a staff member at The Park, and I enjoyed Irving's kindness and his sense of humor. He also displayed wonderful art work throughout our community. I will miss him. I will keep my thoughts and prayers with you during this difficult time.

Abby Campos
Resident Activity Coordinator
[email protected]