To view the Vigil Service, please go to: Vigil Service

To view the Mass of Christian Burial, please go to: Mass

Robert C. "Punky" Beauchamp, 71, East Grand Forks, MN, died on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND from complications of heart disease.

Punky was born September 26, 1952, in Grand Forks, ND. He was the oldest living child of Robert and Ione (Peterson) Beauchamp. Punky was baptized at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grand Forks, ND and attended St. Mary's Catholic School until 1959 when the family built a house in East Grand Forks, MN. Punky completed his sacramental formation at Sacred Heart Church and was a proud graduate of Sacred Heart School's class of 1970.

On July 21, 1972, Punky married his high school sweetheart, Roberta Claire Spoor at Sacred Heart Church in East Grand Forks. They raised two children, Bradley John and Janelle Claire.

Punky entered the workforce after high school, becoming a licensed journeyman electrician. After a decade of electrical work, he continued his career as the Maintenance and Facility Manager at Sacred Heart Church and School until retiring in 2014.

Volunteerism, leadership, and civic engagement were key aspects of Punky's life. In addition to his lifelong commitment of working and volunteering at Sacred Heart Church and School, Punky put public service above politics, having been elected to four consecutive terms as First Ward Alderman on the East Grand Forks City Council (1988 to 2003). From 1994 to 2003, he served as City Council President, actively leading the 1997 Flood Fight and the city's subsequent rebuilding efforts which included lobbying for aid at the state and national levels. Punky was proud to have played a key role in the rebuilding and dedication of Sacred Heart School in 1998-1999 and a recent addition to the school, completed in 2019. Punky earned leadership awards and/or service recognition from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Sacred Heart Athletic Club, Jaycees, GF/EGF Metropolitan Planning Commission, East Grand Forks Water and Light Commission, River Forks Commission, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/St. Paul District. A friend and city council colleague once described Punky's temperament as that of a cross between a pitbull and teddy bear, which implied he was the kind of man who could get things done with an assertive attitude but at his core Punky had a soft heart while striving for the common good.

Punky was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Roberta; daughter Janelle (Ben) Gergen of East Grand Forks, MN; daughter-in-law Amy Beauchamp of Grand Forks, ND; grandchildren Peter, Maria, and Joseph Gergen of East Grand Forks, MN and Bella and Avery Beauchamp of Grand Forks, ND; mother Ione Beauchamp of East Grand Forks, MN; siblings Jeff (Kim) Beauchamp of Wahpeton, ND, Jill (Blaine) Schatz of Carrington, ND, Mark (Gale) Beauchamp of Phoenix, AZ, and Michele Volker of Summerlin, NV; sister-in-law Mary Spoor of Grand Forks, ND; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Tom and Marsha Spoor of East Grand Forks, MN; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mike and Rebecca Sandler of Elk Grove Village, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his son, Bradley; father, Robert "Bob" Beauchamp; in-laws Jack and Donna Spoor; brothers-in-law Anthony Spoor and K. Warren Volker; infant grandson JohnPaul Gergen; and two infant siblings.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, September 5, 2024, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, East Grand Forks, MN.
Visitation: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 4, 2024, with 7:00 p.m. Vigil Service in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Thursday.
Burial: Resurrection Cemetery, East Grand Forks, MN.