John Beamer ’61, 1939–2023

Marathon runner and former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Iowa John Evans Beamer ’61 died Nov. 19, 2023, in Des Moines. He was 84.

Beamer studied sociology and economics at Cornell and was captain of the swim team. He earned a degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, then was sworn in as a special agent with the FBI, assigned first in Seattle, Washington, then Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California, where he conducted investigations for White House appointments and the National Security Council.

In 1970 he became the Assistant Attorney General for Iowa, heading the civil division for seven years. In 1972, he was appointed Special Iowa Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Iowa Tort Claims Division, defending the state in civil litigation. Subsequently, he was appointed Chairman of the Public Employment Relations Board, serving as chief labor law judge for the state. In 1986 Beamer became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Iowa assigned to the civil division and later, the general criminal division. He retired in 2018 after 32 years.

Beamer ran 22 marathons, three of them the Boston Marathon, with an achievement of running a 2:54 hour marathon at the age of 45. 

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; a son and daughter; three step-children; five grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.