Mr. Becherer was a United States Army Veteran. His service included involvement in the liberation of Camp Mauthausen Nazi concentration camp in Austria in May, 1945 and relocation of the surviving POWs there until September,1945. Norman was awarded the Victory Medal, the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, two Overseas Service Bars, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a charter member of Catholic War Vets Butz-Jobe Post #370 and was the last surviving member of the original group from St. Teresa Parish. He was a life-long member of St. Teresa Parish, a member of the Church Building Committee, and past President of the Holy Name Society at the church. Norman was a recipient of the Belleville Citizen of the Year award and received accolades at the Belle-Scott Dinner in 2016. He worked at the Belleville Post Office as Head Window Clerk before his retirement and was a member of APWU (American Postal Workers Union) from 1965 until present. Norman played the accordion and harmonica since early 1946 and was very active at the Shrine playing with a kitchen band. He built his own home and was called upon by many to assist in their own building. He could do anything from carpentry, wiring, plumbing, etc. He was an artist, woodworker, and mechanic. Norman was a true example of a life well lived.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Dorothy, nee Franke, Becherer, whom he married on May 25, 1949, and who died on August 11, 1984; his parents, John and Bertha, nee Schaefer, Becherer; a granddaughter, Angela Billhartz; a brother, Cletus Becherer; a sister, Bertina Davis; a brother-in-law, Charles Franke; and two sisters-in-law, Marguerite and Arlette Franke.
He is survived by a son, Ronald (Sandra) Becherer;
three daughters, Nancy (Michael) Billhartz, Jayne (Bruce) Knapp, and Barbara (Gregory) Kimutis;
14 grandchildren, Timothy (Andrea) Becherer, Michelle (David, Jr.) Garris, Neal (Jennifer) Knapp, Christina (Timothy) Mueth, Brad Billhartz (Iris Hyunji Park), Keith (April) Becherer, Kathryn (Nathan) Norsigian, Kendra (James) Nowatzki, Joni Knapp (Colin Calvanese), Maria Billhartz, Nicholas Kimutis, Anthony (Emily) Kimutis, Elizabeth Kimutis, and Mary Kimutis;
19 great-grandchildren, Peyton, Blake, Joseph, Adeline, and Mackenna Becherer, Claire and Colin Garris, Tristin, Riley and Jacob Knapp, Colin, Cailynn, and Gianna Mueth, Dax, Levi, and Tenley Norsigian, James and Maeve Nowatzki, Marin Sauzek and Baby Kimutis, expected in February;
a brother, Ardell (Mary Ann) Becherer;
two brothers-in-law, Ralph Franke and Richard Davis;
and a sister-in-law, Esther Becherer.
The family would like to express their respect and gratitude for the loving care provided to Norman at St. Francis and Dammert Geriatric Center at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
Memorials may be made to Family Hospice, to St. Teresa Catholic Church, or to the Catholic War Veterans. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 10, 2019, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, January 11, 2019, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL. A Catholic War Veterans Post #370 ritual will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 11, 2019, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. David Darin and Msgr. Kenneth Schaefer concelebrating.
Burial with military honors will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Shiloh, IL.