Raymond Beu, 85, of Elgin retired in 1979 as president of the former First National Bank of Dundee in East Dundee, now First American Bank, after more than 30 years of service. Mr. Beu died Wednesday, Jan. 17, in Sherman Hospital in Elgin. Mr. Beu served as a captain with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II. He received a Bronze Battle Star with an oak-leaf cluster, among other decorations. “He was a wonderful teacher,” said his granddaughter Kelly. “For myself and my cousins, the life lessons we have learned, we learned through him. That’s something we all cherish.” His granddaughter said Mr. Beu enjoyed working at the bank, even through some difficult moments. “He was held up at gunpoint [at the bank] twice in the 1960s and the 1970s, 10 or 15 years apart by the same man. The second time it was a few days after [the man] got out of jail. My grandpa stayed calm through it all. My grandpa was very much a man in charge. He was a feisty, powerful man.” Other survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ruby; three sons, Richard, Gary and Bruce; six more grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday in Madison Funeral Home, 305 Park St., Elgin. A service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 115 N. Spring St., Elgin.
