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James Lynn Beck
Jan 5, 1945-Aug 16, 2021
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James Lynn Beck was born on January 5, 1945 to Gordon “Pete” and Adella Beck of Hughson, California. 

Jim passed away on August 16, 2021 due to complications following surgery. 

Jim loved the outdoors, even as a child, spending many hours roaming the fields with his BB gun. 

He worked alongside his brother and cousins in the peaches, learning his work ethic from his beloved uncles and father. 

When Jim was attending Modesto Junior College studying agriculture, he and his brother had an opportunity to purchase their first piece of land. 

With the Vietnam war escalating, farming by day and attending classes at night didn’t exempt him from the draft. Upon learning his number had been drawn, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After being assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, he served in Vietnam from late 1965 through 1966 and arrived home January 11, 1967, missing two Christmases with his family. 

Soon after his return from “Nam” he married his Hughson High School sweetheart Adrienne “Rennie” Aldrich. 

After serving out the rest of his tour of duty in Yuma, Arizona, he and Rennie returned to the farm and the life he had missed so much.

 Jim loved building equipment, developing orchards, the physical labor of working alongside his employees, and mentoring them. 

So many people have told his family that they learned their work ethic and how to treat their employees from him. He would drop everything to help a friend, neighbor, or stranger. 

Jim will be forever missed by his wife of 54 years, Adrienne, his sons, Tim (Liz) and Scott, his beloved grandchildren James and Maryssa Beck, his sister Reva Merriam (Jim), and brother Mike (Janice). 

Jim is also survived by three young men who considered him a father figure, Dr. Richard Cano, Shogo James Ando, and Michael Morris. 

He will be missed by his nieces, nephews, dear friends, and neighbors. 

There will be a celebration of Jim’s life on August 28, 2021 at 1:00pm at the Hughson United Methodist Church, 2007 6th Street, Hughson, California. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, California 95356. If you are a blood donor, please consider giving to the community good.