Obituary of James Alan Beckman

James Alan Beckman (Jim) passed away at age 84 on September 16, 2022. Jim was born on January 15, 1938, in Stockton, CA to Helen O'Hara Beckman and George Oswald (G.O.) Beckman. Jim attended St. Anne's Catholic School in Lodi and graduated from Lodi Union High School in 1955. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1961 from the University of San Francisco. Jim married Lucille Bowser on September 23, 1960.

Jim had a long and storied career in the wine industry. After graduating from college, he joined Guild Wineries and Distilleries and worked in many key management positions until 1990. He then joined Heublein Wines as Vice President, Grower Relations/Operations and retired in 2001, remaining in the wine industry as a consultant for several years.

Jim also served as a Board Member for the Wine Institute for 25 years. He was a founding director of the American Vineyard Foundation, Chairman of the California Wine Commission, the California Brandy Advisory Board, the California Grape Inspection Advisory Committee, and served as the Chairman of the Public Relations Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington DC during the mid 1970s.

Jim was an avid golfer and member of the San Francisco Olympic Club, San Francisco Press Club, Rancho Casa Blanca Country Club, Woodbridge Country Club, and Sequoia Woods Country Club.

Over the years, Jim owned numerous motorhomes, which took he and his family on many memorable vacations and trips all around the country, including Alaska and Mexico. Once Jim was tired of driving the motorhome, he purchased a vacation home in Blue Lake Springs, Arnold, CA where his entire family spent summers golfing and winters playing in the snow together. Jim also owned a vacation home on the golf course at Rancho Casa Blanca Country Club near Palm Desert, CA, where he and his wife spent their winters in the sun golfing and sharing 5 o'clock cocktail hours with their many friends in the desert.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Helen and G.O. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lucille, his brother Bill Beckman (Donna), his daughter Cory Ramsden (John) and their children Shea (Kaitlin), Nikki (Justin), Grace, and Payton, and first great-grandchild Walker, his son Randy Beckman (Paula) and his children Joelle and Jackie (T.J.), and his daughter Kristy Kallas (John) and their children Nicole, Katina, and Alexa. All members of what Jim would often proclaim as "the best family ever".

Visitation will be Monday September 26th from 1-8 pm with a Rosary to be held at 6pm at Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S Fairmont Ave, Lodi, CA. Funeral services will be held at Saint Joachim Catholic Church, 13392 E Lockeford Ranch Rd, Lockeford, CA on Tuesday, September 27th at 11:00am, interment immediately following at Lodi Memorial Park and Cemetery, 5750 E. Pine St. Lodi, CA and reception to follow at Wine and Roses, 2505 W. Turner Rd. Lodi, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim's name to a charity of your choice.

Please sign the guestbook at www.lodinews.com/guestbook.