Charles "Butch" Beckum

On the morning of November 6th, 2021, playwright, thespian, and father, Charles “Butch” Beckum peacefully took his final bow. Butch lived a storied, but always humble, life as an actor, wanderer, and warrior-poet for 61 adventurous years.

His proud and esteemed service as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force inspired his most treasured work, “Learning to Fly,” a one-man show about the Vietnam War, which enjoyed local production and was well received.

He is survived by his daughters, Ally Beckum and Shiloh Beckum, Sons-in-Law Kyle Beckum & Benjamin Sommers, his sister Myleen Beckum, and his two extremely affectionate cats, Phil and Boots. He was preceded in death by his parents, Myles and Bonnie Beckum.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center in Whitewater on Friday, December 10th from 5-8pm.

Butch did not believe in saying goodbye because we’re never apart for long and, if he could, would tell his family, friends, and every reader of this obituary “…until then.”

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Derrick Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family of Charles Beckum.