Joseph Cochise Beck

Joseph C. Beck passed away early Sunday morning, June 29, 2025 at the Stillwater Medical Center. He fought a courageous battle against lung cancer and COPD for the last two years. Joe suffered a stroke in 2017 which left him unable to work and do the things he enjoyed. 

Joe was born November 27, 1950 at Memorial Hospital in Arkansas City, KS. He was the son of Daniel S. Beck Jr. and Dorothy Faye Beck. He graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1969.  

Joe enjoyed rodeos and in his younger years competed in bull riding where he won many awards. He also had a string of bucking bulls which were quite successful. His other hobbies included riding and trading horses, coon hunting, and gardening. 

Joe worked as a stone mason by trade for over thirty years. He leaves behind a legacy of his talent as you drive down Summit Street where he laid stone on many of the businesses and numerous homes in the Arkansas City area. The past couple of years as his health declined, he enjoyed watching old reruns of Gunsmoke and riding around the countryside with his lifelong friend, Wayne Jackson. 

Joe is preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Dorothy Beck and leaves behind one brother, Daniel Beck of Tucson, AZ and one sister Mona Beck Thomas of Salt Lake City, UT. His surviving children are Candace Cooper of Ft. Worth, TX, Cody Jacobs of Chandler, AZ, Jennifer Blatchford of Arkansas City, KS and Brett Jacobs of Pensacola, FL. He had eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. 

A heartfelt thank you to the Kanza Clinic in Newkirk, OK for their help and support with all of Joe’s medical needs. To Dr. Prichett, Katelyn, Paula, Devon, and Rick, thank you for everything you did to make him comfortable. The family also wanted to give their appreciation to the Angel Care nurses Missy, Aubrey, and Katelyn who checked on him bi- weekly, along with the Stillwater Cancer Clinic for treating him with dignity and respect. Many thanks to the Newkirk Police Department and EMT’s for coming to Joe’s assistance countless times over the past years. Joe probably put more miles on your ambulance than any other person in Kay County. Your professionalism and kindness were so appreciated.

Thank you to his group of friends at Wheatridge Apartments for caring and looking out for Joe. 

Our family could not be more grateful to Shari Beck and Sarah Lingnau for the personal care and love that was given to Joe as his health declined. Unconditional love and support was shown every day. 

During his teenage and wilder years our mother always said, “If Joe falls asleep, don’t wake him up!”  Sleep well Joe.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 AM, August 16, at the Maverick Rodeo Arena, 32555  Tower Rd. Arkansas City, KS. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Maverick Rodeo Arena- Attn: Brittany Shaffer, 27453 101 Rd.
Arkansas City, KS 67005. Arrangements are in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home.