JoAnne M. "Becky" Beckmann, 90, of Washington, passed away at 4:15am Friday, August 19, 2022 at Washington Senior Living.

She was born March 20, 1932 to the late Leo and Dorothea Schmelter Beckmann.  She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Madelyne Stalbaum and Dorothy Saberniak; and brother-in-law, Gerald Doty.

Surviving are her best friend, Mary Miller; three siblings, Lorraine (John) Uzubell, Donald (Ursula) Beckmann, Marjorie Doty; and numerous nieces and nephews.

JoAnne graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a bachelor degree in Physical Education. She was a teacher of physical education, as well as coaching softball and badminton, at East Peoria Community High School for 29 years before retiring.  She loved sports and was a professional softball player at age 16 with the Chicago Bloomer Girls in 1948 and continued playing with various teams in Chicago until the League folded about 1953.   She played ASA (amateur) softball with the Pekin Lettes for many years and was inducted into the Illinois ASA Softball Hall of Fame in 1974.  She also loved Notre Dame College Football, the Cubs and the Bears.

She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church at 705 E. Jefferson Street, Washington, IL 61571, where her funeral mass will be held at 10am Thursday, August 25, 2022.  Visitation will be at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory at 2075 Washington Road, Washington, IL 61571 Wednesday, August 24 ^th from 4 to 6pm, with additional visitation one hour before her mass at church on Thursday from 9 to 10am.  A graveside service will be held at 1pm Monday, August 29th at Calumet Cemetery in Merrillville, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her church, or TAPS No-kill Animal Shelter in Pekin.