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Obituary for Margaret C. "Peggie" Beukema

Margaret C. "Peggie"  Beukema
Margaret ‘Peggie’ Beukema, 91, passed away in Suffern, NY on January 19, 2020 with loved ones by her side. Margaret Helen Chaffee was born to Carl and Grace Chaffee on February 23, 1928 in Johnson City, NY. She was an only child who had many friends in the neighborhood, school and at the First Baptist Church in Johnson City where she learned to love the Lord and others with His love. She played the trumpet in the band, and loved to sing and play the piano. She graduated from Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City where she met her husband, Henry ‘Hank’ Beukema, and they were married in 1949. Peggie moved to join Hank in the NYC area where he was working with HiBA leading Bible clubs for high school students, and she worked in the HiBA office on Park Row in lower Manhattan. Hank’s work moved them to South Jersey, Cleveland, OH, Johnstown, PA and then back to the NYC area, and they ended up in Nyack, NY where they made their home for the past 62 years. While Hank worked for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and traveled setting up numerous crusades across North America and in Asia, Peggie enjoyed being home with her two sons. To supplement the family finances, she started selling Avon door to door. It was difficult for her at first, but she worked hard and was soon made District Sales Manager managing and training over 300+ representatives at any given time for 30 years. Peggie was also an active member at Grace Baptist Church in Nanuet, NY since 1963; singing in the choir and serving on numerous committees and the Trustees. She retired from Avon in 1994, and then became volunteer coordinator of the annual Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection project for needy children in the USA and around the world. She completed her 20th year doing the project in 2015 at the age of 87. Peggie also worked with Hank to lead Senior Heirs at Grace Baptist Church that held monthly luncheons with speakers and fellowship for 36 years. Peggie was able to motivate and love people for good both in her work and in her ministry for the Lord.
Peggie is survived by her two sons: Hank (Pomona, NY) and Mark (Newark, NJ); two sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Hank, of 68 years; her parents; many members of the Beukema family who loved this ‘only child’ as one of their own; a son, Carl Thomas, who died as an infant in 1953; and grandson, Jesse, who died in an accident at 18 in 1992.
The family will receive friends at All Soul’s Community Church, 81 Washington Ave., Suffern, NY 10901 from 10:00 am on Friday, January 24, 2020 followed by a Funeral service at 12 noon. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, 140 North Highland Ave., Nyack, NY 10960 on Monday, January 27, 2020 at 10:00 am.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Grace Baptist Church, PO Box 576, Nanuet, NY 10954 or Operation Christmas Child, Boone, NC.
Arrangements by Hannemann Funeral Home, Inc., Nyack.
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