Elizabeth “Liz” Ann Beale, 89, Rockford, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. She was born on February 11, 1937, in Dubuque, IA, the daughter of Ray and Margaret (Walter) Unmacht. An Iowa girl at heart, Liz graduated from Wartburg College in 1959 and moved to Rockford, IL. Liz was a teacher off and on for almost 40 years in the Rockford School district, beginning her career teaching at Kishwaukee Elementary School and retiring from Nelson Elementary School. In between she was a substitute teacher and a librarian at Christian Elementary School. After retirement she worked as a part-time receptionist at P.A. Peterson in Rockford where she got to know many of the patients and their families. She was a member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and a former member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and One in Christ Church. Her church families were very important to her as was volunteering at those churches along with participating in numerous small group discussions and bible studies. She loved to sing the traditional hymns and had several devotional books that she read frequently.
There was a “six degrees of separation” quality to Liz. When she met you, you were put through the Liz Beale interview – spouse’s names and occupations, children’s names and occupations, etc. Inevitably she would know someone that you knew or your spouse/children knew and she would make that connection.
She moved into Siena on Brendenwood in 2013 and that community truly became her home. She loved visiting with her neighbors, greeting new people, and playing cards or mahjong as often as possible. She was a regular listener to WGN radio, and the Cubs were her team. The View (as evidenced by her vast collection of View coffee mugs) and Hallmark Channel movies were appointment television. Speaking of appointment television – before there was Amazon, there was QVC and Liz was dialed in. She was fiercely independent and happy to tell you how she felt about most subjects.
Friends and family all know how special it was to receive a card from Liz for birthdays, holidays and all occasions in between. It’s safe to say Liz has kept Hallmark stores afloat (as Dollar Store cards just weren’t good enough) and her family will continue those card exchanges in the future.
Liz is survived by her sons, Doug (Michelle) Beale and Jeff Beale; her grandchildren, Tanya (Nicholas) Swain, Brooke Guldin, Zachary and Nathaniel Beale; and her great-grandchildren, Theodore and Eldon Swain. Predeceased by her parents, aunts and uncles.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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