Carl E. Becker (84) of Altamont

Visitation for family and friends will be held Sunday December 5 at 4 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Altamont. Funeral services will be held Monday December 6 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. James F. Wright and Rev. Gaylord Spilker officiating. There will be a visitation on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service. Military Burial Rites will be held at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery following the funeral services. Memorials may be made to Christian Harness Horsemen Association, Immanuel Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and The Whoo Hoo Sisterhood. Online condolences may be left by clicking here.

Carl was born July 21, 1937, into the Christian family of George August and Dorothy Edna Meyers-Becker. He was baptized in Immanuel Lutheran Church August 8, 1937 and confirmed his faith April 2, 1950. Carl continued to be very active in Immanuel Lutheran Church serving in numerous church offices. Carl graduated from Altamont Community High School with the Class of 1954. Carl then attended the University of Illinois and was the winner of the 1957 Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Individual Champion and was president of the University of Illinois Livestock Judging Team. Carl graduated from the University of Illinois in 1958. Carl was the winner of the intercollegiate livestock judge for the U of I and was also awarded the outstanding senior in the college of agriculture. Carl married his wife Bonnie Earleyne Eleam October 22, 1965 in Flora.

After graduating from the University of Illinois, Carl was a former science, mathematics and agricultural teacher in the Beecher City and Teutopolis school districts for a number of years. Carl always maintained his love for agriculture, horse breeding and well known for horse racing announcing, both in the United States and other countries such as Canada, Sweden, and New Zealand. Over the years, some of his business dealings included the ownership of car washes and laundromats in Illinois and Indiana. Some of his memberships included the US Naval Reserve receiving an honorable discharge, the USTA, NRA, Lutherans for Life, Former Effingham County Fair Association, Director, ISOBA Board of Directors, Illinois Christian Harness Horseman Association, Downstate Classic Board, ZHHA Hall of Fame Inductee, Harness Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, IHHA Hall of Fame Inductee, Communicators’ Corner Inductee, 4H Alumni Award Commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel 

Carl is survived by his wife, Bonnie Earleyne Eleam-Becker of Altamont; three sons, Jon (wife Susan) Becker and Kurt Becker, all of Altamont and Kris (wife Julie) Becker of Phoenix Arizona and a grandson, Matthew Becker of Altamont.

He was preceded in death by his parents and aunts Ruth Beccue and Gail McGraw.

Scott Peine and his staff in the racing department at Harrah's Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind. have designated Race 7 Saturday night, The Carl Becker Memorial for fililes and mares in memory of Carl.