Norman D Beauchamp

Norman Beauchamp, a man of boundless generosity and unshakeable faith, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the age of 89 after a life devoted entirely to his family, his community, and God.

He was born on April 17, 1936 in Escanaba, Michigan, and made his home in the Port Huron area for more than 65 years, where his presence left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

A graduate of Gladstone High School, the University of Michigan School of Business and the University of Detroit Law School, Norman began his career as a young attorney in Port Huron, building a practice grounded in integrity and a tireless work ethic. Yet it was not in the courtroom but in the community where his greatest legacy was forged. Over the course of his life, Norman served on 27 boards of directors - among them over 30 years at Port Huron Hospital and over 40 years on the board of SC4 - giving his time, talent, and wisdom to institutions that shaped countless lives.

Together with his beloved wife Joyce, Norman raised ten remarkable children, and not once did he miss a game, a recital, or a moment that mattered to them. His home was a place of warmth and welcome - open to dozens of exchange students from China, Kazakhstan, and beyond, a reflection of his deep belief in human connection and the power of understanding across cultures.

Norman’s spirit of adventure and enterprise carried him to the far corners of the world. He was among the first American businessmen to travel to Russia during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, where he had the rare distinction of meeting President Mikhail Gorbachev. He also helped cultivate early business relationships in Kazakhstan, always with an eye toward possibility and progress. His most enduring humanitarian work took him to Africa, including Nigeria, where he became deeply committed to providing fresh water and housing to communities in need. Through the foundation he established, Norman helped fund the drilling of at least 87 water wells - a legacy of clean water that will sustain lives for generations to come. Norman’s faith was not merely personal - it was something he lived out loud and shared with the world.

A devoted believer, he was deeply committed to religious education and determined to see it flourish. When he recognized that the St. Mary’s School needed greater financial support, he did what Norman always did: he rolled up his sleeves and found a way. He launched a Bingo program to raise funds, turning an ordinary idea into a thriving community effort. So proud was he of what that program could accomplish - and so eager to inspire others - that he sat down and wrote a book about it, leaving behind not just a fundraising model but a testament to what faith in action truly looks like.

Those who loved Norman remember him as a man of endless energy and optimism, whose enthusiasm for life was as contagious as it was genuine. Every holiday gathering - Christmas, New Year’s, Super Bowl - was elevated by his presence, and no celebration was complete without his legendary Upper Peninsula shuffle dance, a performance that never failed to fill the room with joy. It is impossible to fully capture in words what 89 years of such a full and faithful life truly meant. But Norman Beauchamp’s impact speaks for itself - in the children he raised, the water wells he drilled, the students he welcomed, and the communities he served. He gave himself completely, and the world is immeasurably richer for it.

Norman is survived by his ten children, Mark (Kathy) Beauchamp, Stephen (Aliki) Beauchamp, Anne (Steve) Murray, Robert (Ruth) Beauchamp, Thomas (Mary) Beauchamp, James Beauchamp, Jeanne (Mike) Dibella, Joseph (Carly) Beauchamp, Mary Beauchamp and Michael Beauchamp; 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Norman was preceded in death by his wife, Margeret “Joyce” Derrick Beauchamp after 62 years of marriage.

Norman personally wrote his memoirs which can be found at: https://archive.org/details/norman-beauchamp-memoirs

A Celebration of Norman’s life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are by Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home. To send condolences, visit karrersimpson.com