Matthew Austin Beaman

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe in this?” John 11:25 Matthew Austin Beaman, 26, formerly of Hartford, left this earth on October 5, 2008, to rest in the palm of God’s heart until the glorious day of resurrection. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd; St. Joseph, MI. Visitation with the family will be from 1:00 to 2:00 PM prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com A cherished and beloved son, Matthew was born September 1, 1982. As a young boy, he played baseball and was on the All-Star team. During his high school years he joined the chess team and became a chess champion. In 2001, he graduated Hartford High School, in the top ten of his class, and entered the USAF, where he became a crew chief for the F117. Later, he moved to Shreveport, LA where he worked for Calumet, an oil refinery company, and was preparing to go to Dallas, TX to test for his AP license. He loved golf, reading and writing, and old cars, video games, and The Sopranos. Most of all he loved his family, especially his daughters, Aimee, age 4 and Emily, age 2. Matthew accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior on April 8, 2007 and shortly thereafter was baptized. His favorite song was East to West, by Caste and Crown. Matthew’s passing has left a large hole in our hearts and lives. We will miss his beautiful smile and his laughter. We will miss this special person that graced this earth for such a short time. But, his death is only a passage from life to life, and one day he will be resurrected to stand to life once again, and we will see him. Matthew is survived by his parents, Daniel Beaman of Hartford and Terese Beaman of St. Joseph; his sister, Rebecca; his daughters, Aimee and Emily; niece McKenzie; grandparents ‘Papa Jack’ Weingartz and Violet and Jim Bartalone; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Sharon Weingartz and grandfather, Ruel Beaman. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and He will reside with them, and they will be His peoples. And God Himself will be with them. And He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away”. Revelations 21:3-4