The Beilke family moved to Marshalltown in 1961. Gene and Ernestine took positions in the Marshalltown education system as elementary school Principal and teacher. Randy, as he was known, became active and excelled in many sports including basketball, football, baseball and track and field. Randy was an exceptional athlete. He also played in the school orchestra where the orchestra often tuned their instruments to Randy’s A. He had perfect pitch. Music continued as a passion throughout his life and he became an expert on sound systems and how to install them for perfect sound in a particular environment. He was fond of sending family and friends links to music he found interesting and beautiful. He graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1969. He had to decide between a scholarship from Drake University in track and field or basketball, a baseball scholarship and several other basketball scholarships. At the end of his sophomore year in baseball he was approached by several professional baseball teams. He chose basketball and education at the University of Northern Iowa and was a starter all four years playing for UNI.

He lived in Norwalk and worked in Des Moines, Iowa, since graduating from UNI. He spent many happy hours with family and friends golfing and fishing throughout his life. He belonged to a golf club in Des Moines and scored a hole-in-one a few years ago. He enjoyed the beauty of the natural world and enjoyed peaceful times while fishing and golfing. His early flirtation with motorcycles became a serious love affair with Corvettes. He owned a 2009 Corvette. He liked to drive and travel and drove his Corvette to Corvette conventions in other states on occasion. He continued his association with UNI after graduation by mentoring and sponsoring young basketball players at UNI and participating in various alumni players programs hosted by UNI. It was Randy’s desire to help young Iowa men with a talent for basketball and a goal to further their education achieve their goals in life.

Therefore, he has established a basketball scholarship at UNI in his name, The Randy Beilke Men’s Basketball Scholarship Fund. The family requests memorials be made to the fund and sent to Gary West at 7 North 5th Street, Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158. You will be notified when your memorial has been deposited into the scholarship fund.

Randy is proceeded in death by his father Gene Beilke.

He is survived by his mother Ernestine Beilke, Oakdale, MN, sister Kandace Beilke Hess (Craig), of Woodbury, MN, nephew Adrian Keyser (Megan) and grand nephew Ronan Keyser, maternal uncle Dave Adamson (Mary), of Apple Valley, MN.

Per the wishes of Randy and his family, cremation rites have been accorded and no services are planned at this time. A Celebration of Life gathering is being planned for this summer in Marshalltown. A date has yet to be established. Condolences can be sent to Ernestine Beilke at 7088 North 10th Street, Apt. 410, Oakdale, MN 55128 and Kandace B. Hess at 10694 Kingsfield Lane, Woodbury, MN 55129.

If you plan to attend Randy’s Celebration of Life, please contact Kandace Hess. For more information about Randy go to Epilogg.com.