Beebe, William Geerds
Sep 22, 1946 - Sep 6, 2013
William Geerds Beebe, aged 66, of Holland, Michigan passed away Thursday, September 5th, in his home. Mr. Beebe was born on September 22nd, 1946 at Holland Hospital. He attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, where he earned honors as "Best Set Up New Cadet" and lettered two years in football. After graduating from St. John's, Mr. Beebe attended and played football at Hope College.
In 1967, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-60). He then volunteered for the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT). Upon graduation from UDT he was assigned to Navy SEAL Team TWO and was deployed to Vietnam in the fall of 1969. Mr. Beebe received the Bronze Star with Combat for heroic achievement on April 2, 1970 for rescuing two Vietnamese women and children from drowning after their sampan sank during a Viet Cong ambush. He was also awarded the Purple Heart when wounded during combat. Upon returning from Vietnam, Mr. Beebe was stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia, where he was responsible for training incoming Navy SEAL candidates.
In April of 1971, he returned to Holland and began work with the Holland Hitch Company as the Managing Director of International Operations and sat on the Company's board of directors until 2006. He met Debbie Hill in 1989 and they were married in Holland in 1993.
Mr. Beebe is survived by his wife, Debbie Beebe; children, Robin and Ryan Perras of Fort Worth, Texas, W. Brett and Eden Beebe of Fort Worth, Texas and Adam and Brooke Beebe of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Brailey Connor, Campbell Beebe, W. Frater Beebe II, Charles Perras and Annabelle Beebe; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Richard Muzzy of Holland; aunt, Alma Geerds Thomas of Holland; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, September 9th at Langeland Sterenberg Funeral Chapel, 315 E. 16th St., Holland, Michigan. A private burial service will take place in Graafschap Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Holland Rescue Mission or to the Wounded Warriors Project.
Sep 22, 1946 - Sep 6, 2013
William Geerds Beebe, aged 66, of Holland, Michigan passed away Thursday, September 5th, in his home. Mr. Beebe was born on September 22nd, 1946 at Holland Hospital. He attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, where he earned honors as "Best Set Up New Cadet" and lettered two years in football. After graduating from St. John's, Mr. Beebe attended and played football at Hope College.
In 1967, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-60). He then volunteered for the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT). Upon graduation from UDT he was assigned to Navy SEAL Team TWO and was deployed to Vietnam in the fall of 1969. Mr. Beebe received the Bronze Star with Combat for heroic achievement on April 2, 1970 for rescuing two Vietnamese women and children from drowning after their sampan sank during a Viet Cong ambush. He was also awarded the Purple Heart when wounded during combat. Upon returning from Vietnam, Mr. Beebe was stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia, where he was responsible for training incoming Navy SEAL candidates.
In April of 1971, he returned to Holland and began work with the Holland Hitch Company as the Managing Director of International Operations and sat on the Company's board of directors until 2006. He met Debbie Hill in 1989 and they were married in Holland in 1993.
Mr. Beebe is survived by his wife, Debbie Beebe; children, Robin and Ryan Perras of Fort Worth, Texas, W. Brett and Eden Beebe of Fort Worth, Texas and Adam and Brooke Beebe of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Brailey Connor, Campbell Beebe, W. Frater Beebe II, Charles Perras and Annabelle Beebe; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Richard Muzzy of Holland; aunt, Alma Geerds Thomas of Holland; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, September 9th at Langeland Sterenberg Funeral Chapel, 315 E. 16th St., Holland, Michigan. A private burial service will take place in Graafschap Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Holland Rescue Mission or to the Wounded Warriors Project.
Beebe, William Geerds
Sep 22, 1946 - Sep 6, 2013
William Geerds Beebe, aged 66, of Holland, Michigan passed away Thursday, September 5th, in his home. Mr. Beebe was born on September 22nd, 1946 at Holland Hospital. He attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, where he earned honors as "Best Set Up New Cadet" and lettered two years in football. After graduating from St. John's, Mr. Beebe attended and played football at Hope College.
In 1967, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-60). He then volunteered for the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT). Upon graduation from UDT he was assigned to Navy SEAL Team TWO and was deployed to Vietnam in the fall of 1969. Mr. Beebe received the Bronze Star with Combat for heroic achievement on April 2, 1970 for rescuing two Vietnamese women and children from drowning after their sampan sank during a Viet Cong ambush. He was also awarded the Purple Heart when wounded during combat. Upon returning from Vietnam, Mr. Beebe was stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia, where he was responsible for training incoming Navy SEAL candidates.
In April of 1971, he returned to Holland and began work with the Holland Hitch Company as the Managing Director of International Operations and sat on the Company's board of directors until 2006. He met Debbie Hill in 1989 and they were married in Holland in 1993.
Mr. Beebe is survived by his wife, Debbie Beebe; children, Robin and Ryan Perras of Fort Worth, Texas, W. Brett and Eden Beebe of Fort Worth, Texas and Adam and Brooke Beebe of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Brailey Connor, Campbell Beebe, W. Frater Beebe II, Charles Perras and Annabelle Beebe; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Richard Muzzy of Holland; aunt, Alma Geerds Thomas of Holland; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, September 9th at Langeland Sterenberg Funeral Chapel, 315 E. 16th St., Holland, Michigan. A private burial service will take place in Graafschap Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Holland Rescue Mission or to the Wounded Warriors Project.
Sep 22, 1946 - Sep 6, 2013
William Geerds Beebe, aged 66, of Holland, Michigan passed away Thursday, September 5th, in his home. Mr. Beebe was born on September 22nd, 1946 at Holland Hospital. He attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, where he earned honors as "Best Set Up New Cadet" and lettered two years in football. After graduating from St. John's, Mr. Beebe attended and played football at Hope College.
In 1967, he joined the Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-60). He then volunteered for the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT). Upon graduation from UDT he was assigned to Navy SEAL Team TWO and was deployed to Vietnam in the fall of 1969. Mr. Beebe received the Bronze Star with Combat for heroic achievement on April 2, 1970 for rescuing two Vietnamese women and children from drowning after their sampan sank during a Viet Cong ambush. He was also awarded the Purple Heart when wounded during combat. Upon returning from Vietnam, Mr. Beebe was stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia, where he was responsible for training incoming Navy SEAL candidates.
In April of 1971, he returned to Holland and began work with the Holland Hitch Company as the Managing Director of International Operations and sat on the Company's board of directors until 2006. He met Debbie Hill in 1989 and they were married in Holland in 1993.
Mr. Beebe is survived by his wife, Debbie Beebe; children, Robin and Ryan Perras of Fort Worth, Texas, W. Brett and Eden Beebe of Fort Worth, Texas and Adam and Brooke Beebe of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Brailey Connor, Campbell Beebe, W. Frater Beebe II, Charles Perras and Annabelle Beebe; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Richard Muzzy of Holland; aunt, Alma Geerds Thomas of Holland; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, September 9th at Langeland Sterenberg Funeral Chapel, 315 E. 16th St., Holland, Michigan. A private burial service will take place in Graafschap Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Holland Rescue Mission or to the Wounded Warriors Project.
