Becwar, James F.

Brother James F.  Becwar, S.J., a Wisconsin native who loved working with his hands, died Nov. 24 at age 88 at St. Camillus Jesuit Community, in Wauwatosa, Wis.

Br. Becwar was a Jesuit for 64 years and during his decades in the society he worked extensively as a carpenter, electrician and general plant engineer.

Br. Becwar was a worker bee and entered the Society in 1947 at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Mo.  For 24 years he kept the boilers firing and the lights on at Florissant, Marquette High in Milwaukee, Creighton Prep in Omaha and Campion High in Prairie du Chien – and for another 30 years at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Mankato, Minn.  During his years in Mankato he also served as a pastoral minister in the local hospital.  In 2001 he moved to the  Creighton University Jesuit Community and in 2004 to St. Camillus.

He was born on Jan. 16, 1923 in Eastman, Wis. and graduated from Seneca High School in 1941.  He pronounced his final vows Aug. 15, 1957 at Marquette High School.

In 2001, he retired to the Jesuit Community of Creighton University in Omaha, and while there, he provided various services to that community. Due to failing health, in 2004 he was missioned to pray for the Church and the Society of Jesus at the St. Camillus where he died.