Constance “Connie” Beck passed away on January 10, 2026 at her home in Clinton, Iowa. Connie’s Celebration of Life will be at the First United Methodist Church in Clinton, Iowa on Saturday, February 28th at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided afterward. Friends will be encouraged to come forward to share a memory of Connie, if able.
Connie was born on April 21, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Arlington B.E. Beck and Marjorie Louise Ganschow Beck. She grew up in Cleveland Heights, learning housekeeping activities as a child and putting these skills to use by the age of 12 with babysitting jobs, and in her later teens with jobs teaching cooking and swimming at the local YM/YWCA. She was also active in church missions, in
Appalachia and later in the Philippines with International Christian Youth Exchange. Upon returning from the Philippines, Connie began attending Purdue University, where she earned her degree in chemical engineering in 1980. Her long-term position with Owens-Corning included some work on research and development of materials, but focused especially on solid waste management. A similar role with USI Chemicals Company brought Connie to Clinton, Iowa, and was instrumental in bringing the company into full compliance with EPA regulations.
After retiring from USI, Connie returned to her mission roots, attaining a Masters of Divinity after four years as a seminarian. In 2005 she began work as the Hospice Chaplain/Spiritual Care Coordinator with Mercy Home Care and Hospice, adding acute responsibilities at Mercy Medical Center in 2006. In this role she accompanied people experiencing loss and grief, performed weddings and preaching as requested, and provided respite care for a teenager with mental health issues.
In the last few years of her life, Connie was involved with the establishment of the Clinton Community Garden and became an assistant with L’Arche Clinton. There she befriended Brenda Connell, joining her in becoming a Sojourner with the Sisters of St. Francis. Connie was a member of the Clinton First United Methodist Church where she played an important role in the Emmaus
Walks.
