Wilhelm (Willie) Beckman - 6th son of Barthold & Christina Margaret (Reese) Beckmann

Wilhelm (Willie) Beckmann (1907-2002), was the last child to be born to farmer Barthold. My father Harry always said, Willie had the same personality as his mother Christina. Loving and caring and good to others. Willie, Harry and Carsten shared their early life together at the Beckmann household, tending the chores of the family farm. Brother Georg had returned from the war and was managing the farm very nicely, no need for Willie to stay.
In the late 1920's maybe 1927 or 1929, Willie left Lamstedt, immigrating to America and NYC. He and brother Carsten would never see their home village again. When Willie arrived in New York he most likely entered into the Deli business like so many other German immigrants, cooking, peeling potatoes, making salads 7 days a week, every week of the year. Hard work, vacations were unheard of.
In the early 1930's Willie met Johanna Hofmeister, a German immigrant to New York by way of South America. They married and set up their apartment. It was a tough time, the depression made it very difficult to obtain work. The marriage wasn't successful and lasted only about a year. No one knew what became of her, she emptied their apartment, sold their belongings and disappeared. No one knew what became of her, NYC is a big city, it's impossible to find somebody.
My father Harry said that on a chance meeting in Kingston, New York 40 years after, he saw Johanna Hofmeister, but they didn't acknowledge one another.
Anyway, Willie continued in the Deli business, probably working for his brother Henry at 3rd or 5th avenue, his brother owned 2 stores. They all worked hard and thrived in a difficult world. Their only pleasures were swimming at Coney Island, playing cards, and having a few beers with his brothers.
Willie never learned to drive a car, his pleasures were mostly found working in the Deli business. In the mid 30's he met and married Elsie Meyer a beautiful American girl of German background. Willie continued working for his brother Henry, until Henry became gravely ill. Upon Henry's death Willie managed Henry's business affairs along with Henry's widow Dorothy, closing down and selling off the Deli's.
Willie and Elsie had a son Bill in 1938, at this time Willies father-in-law Bill Meyer helped him set up a Deli on Myrtle avenue in Brooklyn. Willie and Elsie, their young son and subsequent children Margaret, and Christina lived in an apartment over the Deli. Bill Meyer,Elsie's brother was Willies partner during the busy day's of WWII, when the nearby Brooklyn Navy yard was running at full force, building aircraft carriers and battleships for the Japanese war.
Willie and Elsie thrived , I believe these were the happiest days of Willie's life. Business was good and he enjoyed his family and his work. It was always a joy when my father would visit Willie's store and we could have one of his delicious sandwiches.
The family soon moved around the corner to Hall street, where they had more room for their growing family. A son Barth and a daughter Ruth came next to complete Willie and Elsie's family. Willie enjoyed his life between the Deli and Hall street.
The children grew up, son Bill joined the Marine Corps, Margarita moved on.
Sadly, the area was changing, becoming more black and hispanic, business was dwindling down to selling cigarettes and beer. They had to close the door and walk away from Myrtle avenue. They moved to a nicer area in Glendale/Flushing, Queens.
Young Bill married Liz, they had a nice home on Long island. Margarita works for a Stock Broker on Wall street and lives in a nice home in New Jersey. Christina, Barth and Ruth all live in the metropolitan NYC area.
Bill and Elsie, inherited a 6 family apartment house from Elsie's family which provided them with a livable income. They lived in this apartment house for the remainder of their lives. Elsie passed away August 27, 1999 and Willie on June 3, 2002.
Willie had the distinction of his family, of having the most children (5), and having been married to Elsie (his 2nd wife) for close to 60 years, lived the longest, 95 years, of all his brothers. He was a member, along with his brother Harry, a fifty year member of the Lamstedt Plattdeutsche Volksfest Verein.

George Beckman, December 30, 2005.