Palmer Funeral Homes - Guisinger Chapel

Kim and Michael Becker / photo courtesy of Kim BeckerMichael Becker, co-founder of Hello Gorgeous!, a local non-profit devoted to "restoring the beauty cancer steals" died Monday. He had been battling a rare liver disease for more than 20 years. Now, his legacy will live on through the lives Hello Gorgeous! continues to impact.Eleven years ago, Kim and Michael Becker found their calling. “He looked at me and just kind of smiled and he said, ‘I’m fulfilled,’ and Hello Gorgeous! is what helped fulfill him,” said Kim Becker, Michael’s wife. Michael and Kim were more than husband and wife. They were best friends and business partners, and they selflessly devoted their lives to helping women with cancer. “We never realized how much these women would change us more than we could ever change them,” said Becker. Led by the Beckers, the Hello Gorgeous! family gives women with cancer a red-carpet experience, providing makeovers in their mobile day spas. “When people ask us what we do, our response is, ‘we have the best job in the world,” said Becker. Always seeing the good in things, Michael laid a foundation for the nonprofit. “He was this faithful amazing warrior, this peaceful, peaceful warrior. He worked tirelessly at Hello Gorgeous! He would be lying in a hospital bed and his phone would ring and he would answer, ‘Hello Gorgeous! This is Mike, how can I help you?’” said Trisha Greenlee, director of operations, Hello Gorgeous! Michael's legacy will live on not only through Hello Gorgeous!, but through Kim and their son Seth, too. “He would say to me so often, 'Seth is the best gift I ever could have gotten,'” said Becker. Even after his death, Michael’s generosity continues with the gift of sight. “I hope the person that gets his eyes will see things the way he did,” said Becker. Michael was an organ donor. After his death, Kim received a call notifying her that Michael’s eyes would help two people. “Mike always said to me, 'when my time comes, I want to use up every ounce of everything that I have,' and he said, 'and I want to go sliding i... (WNDU-TV)

Sunday, May 28, 2017 at the Hospice House, South Bend. Joan was born on January 17, 1938 in Mason City, Iowa to the late John and Mildred (Jessup) McMenimen. On November 28, 1959 in Mason City, Joan and Neil Carlson were united in marriage.Joan is survived by her husband of 57 years, Neil, and their three children, Kathy (Kevin) Zeisz of South Bend, Steve Carlson of Manitou Springs, CO, and Mike (Cheryl) Carlson of Albert Lea, MN; six grandchildren, Kyler, Michael, Barbara, Eric, Matthew, and Austin; sister, Mary (Rod) Gray of Reno, Nevada; and her brother, Jack McMenimen of Hawaii/California. Joan's brother Thomas (Blanche) McMenimen and sister Marilyn (Bob) Balek preceded her in death.Joan grew up in Mason City, Iowa, graduating in 1956 as valedictorian from St. Joseph High School. She went on to graduate with high honors from Mason City Junior College as a teacher. She taught third grade before retiring to raise her family, and as her children grew she was very involved as a volunteer in their schools, scouting and Camp Fire but also found time to substitute teach. She was an avid golfer, enjoying the league play at Robin Hood Golf Course and Studebaker Golf Course. Throughout her marriage, as Neil's career evolved and included many corporate moves, she relocated to cities in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, and Tennessee; finally retiring to South Bend in 1997. She and Neil enjoyed winters in Sun City, Arizona. Each new city brought new friends and wonderful memories. She will be remembered fondly by her many friends and family she leaves behind from each of the locations she was fortunate to call home.The family would like to thank the wonderful staff and volunteers at Hospice House in Roseland for the kind, caring, and professional assistance that was provided, as well as the wonderful medical professionals at Memorial Hospital involved with her care.Friends may visit with the family from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend. A ... (Mason City Globe Gazette)