Jerry J. Beachner, 86, of Saint Paul, passed away peacefully in his home on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
Jerry was one of triplets born to Fred and Anna (Brazil) Beachner on April 7, 1938, in Greenbush, Kansas. As the Spring blizzard of 1938 blanketed the earth, Jerry, along with a brother and sister, were delivered by their grandmother and a young aunt of the home.
He grew up on the Beachner family farm northeast of Saint Paul and attended the Lone Elm one-room country school and St. Francis High School.
On Oct. 15, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane “Janey” Bradshaw. She was the love of his life and they were married for 65 years. Together they lived life and raised a family of seven children in Saint Paul.
Jerry was an active member of the community. He faithfully attended St. Francis Catholic Church and was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a past board member of the Kansas Bankers Association, the Kansas Contractor Association and the Associated General Contractors of America.
In the 1950’s, Jerry worked with his father on the farm and in the Beachner Seed Company. Around 1960, he and his brothers founded the Beachner Construction Company. For over 50 years, these companies would excel in the heavy construction and agricultural business in Kansas and multiple surrounding states. In their early years, their work and projects contributed to the construction of the original U.S. Federal Highway System in Kansas.
Jerry oversaw the road and bridge-building division of Beachner Construction Company. He had a natural business sense, a talent for anticipating the next opportunity, and a down-to-earth approach when working with others. He always had a sincere appreciation and concern for their hundreds of employees and was much loved and admired by them in return.
Jerry’s last years were spent reminiscing about his life and family. He had an excellent memory and loved to tell stories about the places he had visited. He remembered every seeding and lighting project and could point out every road and bridge the company had built.
He was proud of his family and grandchildren and loved when they came to visit. His legacy was his commitment to his family, his work ethic and his faith. Jerry will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Survivors include:
Three sons – Jim Beachner (Becky) of Cherryvale, Kansas
Tom Beachner (Debbie) of Olathe, Kansas
Michael Beachner (Angela) of St. Paul, Kansas
Three daughters – Suzie Diskin (Terry) of St. Paul, Kansas
Joan Shannon (Philip Matyas) of Alexandria, Virginia
Annette Treiber (Bill) of St. Paul, Kansas
21 grandchildren
37 great-grandchildren
His triplet sister – Jane Anne Beachner of St. Paul, Kansas
He was preceded in death by his wife, Janey, on Sept. 23, 2020; his son, Jody Beachner; one granddaughter, Leslie Treiber and one grandson Alex Treiber; son-in-law, John Shannon; his triplet infant brother, James Beachner; and three brothers, Bill Beachner, Robert Beachner and Eugene “Corky” Beachner.
The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul concelebrated by Fr. Matthew Davied, Fr. David Michael Htun, Fr. Theodore Khin and Fr. Chrysostom Ah Maung. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in St. Paul. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m., Friday, at the church. The family will receive friends following the rosary.
Memorials are suggested to the St. Francis Parish School of Religion. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
