Harold Ph.D.

Harold Ph.D.

December 31, 1931 - January 17, 2015

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Obituary

Harold D. Beals Ph.D. (Doc Beals), 83, of Platteville passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving wife and family on January 17, 2015 after a challenging battle with dementia. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 22 at the Lutheran Church of Peace, Platteville. Pastor Jeff Pedersen will officiate. Chapel military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5274. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery, Platteville. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday at Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, where Masonic services will be at 7:00 p.m, friends may also call at 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Dr. Harold D. Beals Memorial Fund.
Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Harold was born in New Diggings, WI on December 31, 1931 to Loran and Ramona (Fawcett) Beals. He graduated from New Diggings High School in 1949 and went on to graduate from Platteville State Teachers College in 1953 with a degree in Agricultural Education. Harold was united in marriage to Geneva McReynolds on May 2, 1953 in Cutler, Illinois. Geneva then traveled to Schwabach, Germany to live by Harold's side as he served his country as a member in the US Army from 1953 to 1955.
Harold started his teaching career at Platteville High School in 1955. He then furthered his education attending UW-Madison and received a Master of Science in Agricultural Education in 1959 and PhD in Curriculum and Instruction in 1965. He joined the faculty of UW- Platteville in 1958. From 1966 to 1974 he served as Dean of Students and Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs before returning to his true passion of classroom teaching. He served as Interim Dean of the College of Agriculture from 1983 to 1984 and again before his retirement in 1991. Throughout his thirty five year teaching career he touched countless lives. Harold was honored with the UW-Platteville Distinguished Alumni award in 1992.
He was a member of the Wisconsin Agribusiness Council, the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, the American Vocational Association and Phi Delta Kappa. Harold was inducted into the Wisconsin FFA Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Platteville community has also benefitted from Harold's contributions and leadership. Those organizations include the Platteville Industrial Development Commission, Kiwanis, Lutheran Church of Peace, Grant County Airport Commission and the Board of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. He was always willing to give of his time and talent to those in need.
He was a 60 year member of the Free & Accepted Masons of Wisconsin belonging to Benton Lodge No. 268, Platteville Melody Lodge No. 2, and Olive Branch New Diggings Lodge No. 6. His membership also included the Zor Shrine.
Harold was a long time motorcycle rider. He took great joy from his membership in the UW-Platteville Flyers Club as a private pilot. As a riding and flying enthusiast, he spent many great days traveling scenic roads and skies with his UW-P peers. Singing was very important to Harold and beginning as a college student with his dear friends Bob Campbell, Lew White, and George Amoth they formed a UW-P Ag barber shop quartet entertaining family, friends and others for many years. Later after the Lord took a few members of the quartet, he sang with the Fever River Gospel Team. Harold also enjoyed singing in his church's choir.
Harold is survived by his wife, Geneva of 61 years and their three children, James (Carol) Platteville; Jeffrey (Katie) Waunakee, WI; Darcy (Kaye) Streator, IL; five grandchildren, Jenny (Eric) Abing; Cassie (Jason Ambs) Edge; Lauren (Adam) Cole, Isaac Beals, Maqualin Beals and six great grandchildren. Family was very important to Harold and he looked forward to the times he spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. As an only child, Harold is survived by his sister-in-law Esther McReynolds as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and countless former UW-P students. Harold was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers-in-law Everett and Dale McReynolds and sister-in-law Dyne McReynolds. He will be sadly missed by all.

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LG
Linda (Lageson) Gomoll
Other •
Dearest Mrs. Beals: I am very sorry to hear of the passing of your husband. You were my first grade teacher back in Blanchardville quite a number of years ago. When I was attending UW-Platteville and also Peace Lutheran, you came up to me and introduced yourself, and that was SO very nice, to connect with someone from years ago. I must tell you of another connection. My pastor who confirmed me was Rev. Clifford Pedersen, and I know that his son is now the Pastor of Peace Lutheran. Your husband was a wonderful person and I can tell you both had a very loving marriage and family, and were blessed to have each other for so many years. All my sympathy to you, your children, and all the grandchildren. With loving and caring thoughts. --Linda L. Gomoll
JP
John Porior
Other •
Dr. Beal's was a true professor of youth. He cared about your family life, your student life and was always a true gentlemen. I had Dr. Beal's as a classroom teacher, and worked for him at the University. I would work in his office and Agriculture Hall with my daughter during my student life. Later he would visit my classroom at Oshkosh as a mentor. Dr. Beal's with Dr. Campbell started the FVTI CDE contest. It still lives today. We will miss him. John Porior
RR
Robert and Dorthy Ray
Other •
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
JR
Jeff and Janet Ray
Other •
Dr. Beals was a wonderful man to both me and my family. He will always be remembered as part of Wisconsin'so Agricultural family.
AP
Anna Pennington
Other •
My sympathy to you Geneva and all the family on your loss.
DM
Dick Meske
Other •
Harold was a true gentleman through and through. A man that would do anything for any of us involved in agricultural education. I truly enjoyed the times I worked, visited with Harold over the years. He will be missed at many of the "ag" activities that we were involved with here in South West Wisconsin. We all know that he is in a better place now and we look forward to the day that we can reunite with him. My heart goes out the Beal family in your loss. Keep the faith!!

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