Carolyn R. Beck

Carolyn R. (Heiman) Beck, 72, passed away at Arbor Springs, West Des Moines on October 30, 2014 of complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Carolyn was born on July 29, 1942 in Estherville, Iowa to Frederick and Freda (Zehnder) Heiman. She graduated from Estherville High School and received a degree in dietetics from Iowa State University. After serving a year as a dietetic intern in St. Paul, MN, she married Donald Beck and they moved to Des Moines in 1965. She then worked as a dietitian for Iowa Lutheran Hospital for four years before becoming a full-time mother, raising three daughters. Carolyn was an excellent cook and an accomplished seamstress, making many clothes for her daughters. She later worked for Broadlawns Hospital as a dietitian in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program until her retirement in 2003. Carolyn enjoyed time with her grandchildren, traveling, gardening, and church activities.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Beck; her daughters, Paula (Christopher) Olson of Tampa. FL, Shaunda (Craig) Murphy of West Des Moines, and Barbara (Sean) Culton, of Overland Park, KS; her brother, Eugene Heiman of Pleasanton, CA; her sister, Arleen (Roger) Hultman of Cherokee, IA; and seven grandchildren. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. Carolyn will be cremated following a memorial service at Faith Lutheran Church, 10395 University Ave. in Clive, IA on November 8 at 11:00 am.

Memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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