Bakkum, Beverly Sus (Wolfe) 1962 - 2025

BAKKUM, WOLFE, YOCHUM, VOWELL, HAM, BEARDMORE, SHAW, SCHUSTER, GREENE, WHITEDOG, HERZENACH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/28/2025 at 15:24:29

Beverly S. Bakkum, 62, of Decorah, IA, died Thursday, March 20, 2025, at home in Decorah, IA. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, April 2nd, at 11:00 AM at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon, IA, with pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 10:00 AM until the time of services Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for distribution to causes close to Bev’s heart, or given in her memory to a charity of your choosing. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Beverly Sue (Wolfe) Bakkum was born on December 17, 1962, in Glendale, CA, to Fred and Sandy (Yochum) Wolfe. After graduating from high school in Ohio, she attended Kent State for a brief time before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1980. She served honorably for eight years, achieving the rank of Sergeant. During her service, she met and married John Vowell. Though their time together was short, it was a chapter in her journey. Before leaving the military, she met Terry Beardmore, and together they made a home in Allamakee County, IA, until his passing from a heart attack in 1996. Years later, in a moment she believed was divinely guided, Allan Bakkum entered her life. They married on September 24, 1999, and remained devoted to one another until her final breath on March 20, 2025.

Bev had a lifelong love of learning. In 2002, she earned her BA in Accounting from Luther College, leading to positions at Wapsie Produce, Reiser Implement, and Kerr Electric. Though she was skilled in numbers, her true passion lay in fiber arts—knitting, crocheting, and quilting were the threads that wove joy into her life. Her license plate said it all: SEWNUTS. A Master Knitter, she taught classes at the Blue Heron Knittery in Decorah, sharing her expertise and love for the craft. Her work was treasured by many, including a quilt that now hangs in the vestibule of Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. At the time of her passing, she was in the process of opening her own shop and trademarking a custom yarn brand, with wool provided by Scott Ness—a testament to her unwavering creativity and ambition.

A devoted member of Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Bev served as church secretary for a decade and as treasurer for several years. She also contributed to the women’s group and taught Sunday school when time allowed.

Bev is survived by her husband, Allan, and her children: Dawn (Darrin “Buddy”) Ham, Bryan Beardmore, Michelle (Robert) Shaw, Rebecca Schuster, Eric (friend Casey) Bakkum, David (Bricia Miranda) Vowell, Paul Bakkum, Alisha Bakkum, and Sarah Greene. She is also survived by her brothers Martin, Bill, and Brian, as well as several aunts and extended family. Her beloved grandchildren include: Claudia Whitedog, Theodore Whitedog, Tobin Herzenach, Ethan Vowell, Jacob Vowell, Ava Schuster, and Jaxton Bakkum, along with great-grandson William Whitedog (son of Claudia). She was preceded in death by her parents; second husband Terry Beardmore; her twins Ethan and Rosemary Beardmore; a grandson Orrin Schuster; and her brother Bob Wolfe.

Urnbearers are Jacob Vowell and Ava Schuster.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Gundersen Health System and WinnMed Hospice for their compassionate care throughout Bev’s battle with cancer.

Source: Martin Funeral Home database