- Born on: January 5, 1929
- Departed on: May 9, 2026
- Resided in: Marion, IA
Mary Jean Beck
Mary Jean Beck, 97, of Marion, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed into eternal life on May 9, 2026. In agreement with her wishes, cremation has taken place. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 10:00am.
Jean was born on January 5, 1929, in Clarence, Iowa, to David (“Buster”) and Gladys (Fisher) Ward and grew up on that farm with her brother and sister until she was in seventh grade. The family then moved to rural Marion where she was a 1946 graduate of Springville High School and went on to attend Cedar Rapids Business School. On October 15, 1949, Jean was united in marriage to the love of her life, Verlyn “Bud” Beck in Marion.
Jean was employed by McGladrey Hansen Dunn & Company from 1947 until 1952 when she became a stay-at-home mother. From 1965 to 1970, she was the administrative secretary at Junior Achievement; after that, she became the secretary of Immaculate Conception School until its closing in 1979. From there she became the secretary at St. Matthew’s School until 1982. The Sisters of Mercy Leadership Team then hired her as an administrative secretary until her retirement in 1992. In her spare time, she volunteered over 5,000 hours at Mercy Hospital, including Daffodil Days every March, assisting with Mercy’s “Kids Count Too” cancer program, transporting cancer patients to their treatment appointments for the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Cedar Rapids Veterans Administration Medical Clinic. Jean enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends and watching high school and college sports, especially basketball, football and volleyball.
Jean is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Cynthia (Bruce) LaMotte of Winter Park, Florida; and her son, Gary (Nadia) of Reno, Nevada. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Christina (Donald) LaMotte-Sorota and Tatiana (Glenn) Coleman; and four great-grandchildren, Lauren Mayerle, Makena Sorota, Bennjamin Coleman, and Natalie Coleman.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bud, in 2017; brother, Donald Ward; sister, Joan Sanders; and granddaughter, Renee Mayerle.
A special thanks to all the caring staff and residents at Terrace Glen Village in Marion and the care and concern given to her by Suncrest Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean’s memory to Suncrest Hospice, Cedar Rapids or Mercy Medical Center Foundation, Cedar Rapids.
Jean was born on January 5, 1929, in Clarence, Iowa, to David (“Buster”) and Gladys (Fisher) Ward and grew up on that farm with her brother and sister until she was in seventh grade. The family then moved to rural Marion where she was a 1946 graduate of Springville High School and went on to attend Cedar Rapids Business School. On October 15, 1949, Jean was united in marriage to the love of her life, Verlyn “Bud” Beck in Marion.
Jean was employed by McGladrey Hansen Dunn & Company from 1947 until 1952 when she became a stay-at-home mother. From 1965 to 1970, she was the administrative secretary at Junior Achievement; after that, she became the secretary of Immaculate Conception School until its closing in 1979. From there she became the secretary at St. Matthew’s School until 1982. The Sisters of Mercy Leadership Team then hired her as an administrative secretary until her retirement in 1992. In her spare time, she volunteered over 5,000 hours at Mercy Hospital, including Daffodil Days every March, assisting with Mercy’s “Kids Count Too” cancer program, transporting cancer patients to their treatment appointments for the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Cedar Rapids Veterans Administration Medical Clinic. Jean enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends and watching high school and college sports, especially basketball, football and volleyball.
Jean is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Cynthia (Bruce) LaMotte of Winter Park, Florida; and her son, Gary (Nadia) of Reno, Nevada. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Christina (Donald) LaMotte-Sorota and Tatiana (Glenn) Coleman; and four great-grandchildren, Lauren Mayerle, Makena Sorota, Bennjamin Coleman, and Natalie Coleman.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bud, in 2017; brother, Donald Ward; sister, Joan Sanders; and granddaughter, Renee Mayerle.
A special thanks to all the caring staff and residents at Terrace Glen Village in Marion and the care and concern given to her by Suncrest Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean’s memory to Suncrest Hospice, Cedar Rapids or Mercy Medical Center Foundation, Cedar Rapids.
