Theodore R. Beuke

Colonel Theodore "Ted" R. Beuke, 78, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on May 26, 2012, in Punta Gorda, Florida. Ted was born December 6, 1933 in Augusta, Kentucky, but he grew up in Ohio, where he graduated from Bowling Green University, was a member of Sigma Chi, and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1955. He later went on to earn a Master of Science in logistics management graduating cum laude from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1964. Colonel Beuke retired in 1983 serving in several key positions in the United States and abroad, and at one time he was the Executive Officer for General Alexander Haig. His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal. After retiring in Hawaii, Ted became active in the charitable organization, the Variety Club, and he appeared in TV shows such as Magnum, P.I. and Jake and the Fat Man. He was always very involved in sports, playing baseball and coaching the junior varsity team at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He also refereed high school and college basketball games. Since his stroke in 2007 Ted resided at the Life Care Center in Punta Gorda, where he was a popular resident. Colonel Beuke will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Delphine; his mother, Eleanor Beuke; daughters, MaryAnne Beatty (Tom Collelo), Darien Donahue; sons, Kenneth Wrede, Theodore M. Beuke; stepchildren, Trey Peavy, Bret Peavy (Cathy), Lane Peavy (Mary), and Alex Wilkinson (Rogers) and 15 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father Theodore Beuke, son, John Beuke, brother, Robert Beuke, and his first wife, Mary Anne. Services will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 10:30 am Bayshore Community Chapel at Samville Road (off Bayshore Road) in North Ft. Myers. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Colonel Beuke's honor to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book.