Fremont Township's Frank Beelow had a passion for farming

Frank G. Beelow, the executive director of the Lake County Fair, is being remembered as a sweet, funny man with a passion for farming.

Beelow, 78, a lifelong Fremont Township resident, died Monday.

Generations ago, the Beelow family was among the pioneer families in Fremont Township, said longtime friend Pete Tekampe, the township's supervisor.

A U.S. Army veteran, Beelow owned Beelow's Body Shop in Grayslake from 1968 to 1987 and also worked as a heavy equipment appraiser for Crawford & Co.

But he ran the family farm during those years, too, Tekampe said.

“He always kept his farming roots,” Tekampe said. “He raised his kids on the farm.”

Active with the Lake County Farm Bureau, Beelow was a county fair association board member since 1996. He led the board's entertainment and advertising committee for several years and sat on the building committee.

Kelli Kepler-Yarc, the fair association's board president, called Beelow a sweet and lovable guy.

“I loved his optimism,” she said.

An avid trap shooter, Beelow also belonged to the Glenridge Gun Club.

Beelow's survivors include nine children, nine grandchildren, a great-grandchild and a sister.

Visitation will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at McMurrough Funeral Chapel, 101 Park Place, Libertyville.

A funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Fremont Township.

Instead of flowers, donations to the Fremont Township Food Pantry, 22376 W. Erhart Road, Mundelein, IL 60060, will be accepted.