James Carl Becker

Service Details

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 11:00 am in St. Lucy Catholic Church (3101 Drexel Avenue in Racine) with Rev. Jose Mario Nieto Restrepo officiating. Military honors and a luncheon will follow. Visitation will be in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Monday from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and in the church on Tuesday from 10-11 am. Private interment will take place in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

In honor of Jim’s love of sports, the family is requesting you wear your favorite team apparel to the visitation.

Memorial Suggestions

Memorials to the “Stars & Stripes Honor Flight” or to “Veterans Outreach” have been suggested.

 

Racine- James Carl Becker, age 95, passed away peacefully in his sleep with his wife by his side early Monday, April 14, 2025 at The Woods of Caledonia.

Jim a Racine native, was born in Racine on February 8, 1930, the only child of the late Carl Robert Becker and Elsie Rose (nee: Karpen) Becker. He was a 1947 graduate of St. Catherine’s High School. Following high school Jim enlisted in the Army and soon was on his way to Korea. Jim met his wife Pat months before leaving for Korea. They fell in love with their daily correspondence during wartime and upon his return Jim proposed on Christmas eve and Pat accepted. on August 16, 1952 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Patricia Ann (nee: Ahnen). Jim & Pat went on to have eleven children – 5 boys and 6 girls. They were their everything.

Proud to be an American, Jim had served our country with the United States Army from 1948-52 and from 1950-51 was in the Korean War. He was awarded the Korean War Service Medal with four campaign stars.  Jim was an involved member of the American Legion Post 494, VFW Post 1391, Belle City Chapter 9, Eagles Nest, life member of the National Korean War Veterans Association. He was instrumental in the organization of the KWVA Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter 227, and was an alumnus of the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.

Jim was always involved in his children’s lives. He coached children’s sports through grade school and high school. He then continued to coach women’s softball for 40 years where many of his daughters and their friends played. Jim was a youth group leader through St Edwards for 18 years and touched many lives.

Jim was an avid Green Bay Packer fan attending more than 200 hundred games, including the ice bowl. He was inducted into the Packer Fan Hall of Fame in 2010.

With a strong work ethic that he passed down to his children, Jim was with In-Sink-Erator for 28 years, retiring as the Data Processing Operations Manager in 1989. Catholic by faith, Jim was a longtime member of St. Edward Catholic Church where he served as a past officer of the Parish Council, Home & School, and the Athletic Association. In more recent times, Jim & Pat were active members of St. Lucy Catholic Church. He was also a member of the Ives Grove Retired Men’s Golf League; In-Sink-Erator Management and 10-Year Clubs; as well as a past President and active board member of the Racine-Kenosha Data Processing Association.

Jim believed that faith, Love, family and having a sense of humor where the keys to a successful marriage. His motto was “don’t sweat the small stuff:” and as long as you had the love and support of family most of life is small stuff.

Surviving are his loving wife of over 72 years, Patricia; their children, Carl Becker, Jo Ellen Gonzo, Cathy (Jim) Straka, Rob (Mary) Becker, Paul (CindyLou) Becker, Theresa (Cahnrad) Cagle , Ann (Dan) Winter, Michelle (Jeff) Tyree, Michael (Krissy) Becker and Jennifer Meyers; 28 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Janet (nee: Ahnen) Feest, Kathryn (nee; Ahnen) Heinen, Mary (Nee: Ahnen) Halverson, Margaret (nee: Ahnen) McCutcheon, Beth (Larry ) Lindman; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends – too numerous to mention all by name.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his beloved son, Thomas Becker; grandsons Jeremy Becker and Robert Kaminskis Jr; great-grandson, Diontae Rommel; sons-in-law Lemont Rommel, Bruce Gonzo and Scott Meyers; Daughter-in-law SanDee (nee: Cox) Becker. By Patricias parents John & Genevieve (nee: Williams) Ahnen; and by sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law, Florence (nee: Putra) Ahnen, Gene Ahnen, Marilyn Catherine (nee: Kowalsky) Ahnen, Jerry Ahnen, Frank Halverson, Jack Heinen, Frank McCutcheon.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 11:00 am in St. Lucy Catholic Church (3101 Drexel Avenue in Racine) with Rev. Jose Mario Nieto Restrepo officiating. Military honors and a luncheon will follow. Visitation will be in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Monday from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and in the church on Tuesday from 10-11 am. Private interment will take place in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Memorials to the “Stars & Stripes Honor Flight” or to “Veterans Outreach” have been suggested.

In honor of Jim’s love of sports, the family is requesting you wear your favorite team apparel to the visitation.

A special note of thanks to the staff at The Woods of Caledonia for the compassionate care and support given in Jim & Pat’s time of need. May God bless all of you!