Arlene Beiderbecke

Arlene Beiderbecke, 88, of Moline, IL died January 23, 2012 at Rosewood Care Center, Moline, IL.
Funeral Services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline, IL. There will be a visitation from 2 p.m. until service time. Per her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or Coal Valley Presbyterian Church.
Arlene was born January 3, 1924 in Moline, IL the daughter of Earl and Laura (Kropp) Sullivan. She graduated valedictorian of her high school class in Coal Valley. She was accomplished at both saxophone and piano and enjoyed music and travel. During WWII, at 18, she and a girlfriend drove to California where she found work at a SeaBee base at Port Hueneme near Malibu and met many famous stars of the day at USO dances and events. She married Dale Lees of Coal Valley in January 1945, in Moline. Lees served in the Navy and passed away in 1947 after an extended battle with Hodgkin's Disease. Arlene worked in the Deere & Co. Advertising Department in Moline beginning in 1951. There she met and married Richard Beiderbecke in 1956 and left Deere in 1958 to stay at home with her children. After several years and a variety of jobs, Arlene returned to work at the Deere Administration Center in 1970 and remained there until her retirement in 1984. Arlene was a long time supporter of Democratic politics and was the longest serving Democratic Precinct Committeeperson, holding that position for over 50 years, working on countless campaigns and elections and serving as secretary of the Rock Island County Democratic Party and the Moline Democratic Party. She was active in a Bridge Club, Kings Daughters, Questers, genealogy, and historic preservation groups and volunteered for and contributed to numerous charities. While in her mid 50s, Arlene volunteered to be a tutor and companion to at risk children in a depressed area. A middle aged woman playing one-on-one outdoor basketball with a young boy into the evening when he would otherwise be alone was likely an odd sight. But she enjoyed such things. She was loved and admired by those whose lives she touched by her kindness, generosity, selflessness, and compassion for others. She was always willing to help those down on their luck or struggling due to misfortune. She was quick to laugh and had a great appreciation for the humor to be found in everyday life. She avoided being judgmental and looked for the good in everyone. Arlene had many devoted friends to whom she was devoted in return.
She is survived by her brother, Wendell Sullivan, Moline; son, Chris Beiderbecke, Moline; grandson, James Wilson, Moline; daughter, Elizabeth Beiderbecke-Hart; granddaughters, Lauren and Olivia Hart, Springfield; brother-in-law, Jim Giacomelli; niece, Sue (Dave) DeBaene, Moline; nephew, Bob Giacomelli, Denver.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Marilyn Giacomelli.