August 4, 2025 – West Bend, WI – Neighbors on Edgewood Lane and S. Forest Avenue in West Bend, Wi, are receiving new laterals and the project may cost them a memorial fire hydrant that was painted in tribute to city employee John Beckmann who was tragically killed in a work-related accident in July 2002 when he was 24 years old.
Jamie Zellner lives on the corner of Forest and Edgewood. The memorial hydrant is in front of his house. He said he’s heard the city wants to remove the red, white, and blue hydrant painted in Beckmann’s honor.
“I don’t think they should move it,” he said. “It should stay and be painted once a year by the city as a sign of respect.”
Questioned whether he knew what happened at the corner, Zellner said, “I understand someone lost their life due to inadequate safety procedures at the time, and it set a precedent, and it should be honored that way.”
“I know the city is replacing the lead laterals, but does the hydrant have lead in it,” asked Zellner. “Test it… I don’t think it does.
“I think it should remain here. Some say they want to move it across town to the public works building but he didn’t get hurt over there. Right? Who’s going to notice over there?
Justyn Licht lives on the corner of Forest Avenue and E. Washington Street. “I heard about the meaning behind the hydrant through friends and neighbors,” he said.
“I think we should leave it,” he said. “They should honestly keep it and maintain it, because it’s a landmark, a cool little tribute, and it’s just one of those little West Bend history things.”
Mary Schultz is another neighbor on Edgewood. She lives about four houses from the memorial hydrant. “I think it’s important it stays, because it happened right there,” said Schultz, who was troubled about why the city was so hard pressed to remove it.
“When people walk by and if we’re out there and they’re looking at it, we’ll explain what happened,” she said.
Questioned whether it will carry the same significance if it is moved to the DPW, Schultz said no.
“If the city doesn’t think we care as neighbors, we do,” she said. “I don’t know why it bothers the city so much they feel the need to change it.”
It was July 9, 2002, when John Beckmann was using a power saw to cut a water main when it kicked back and delivered a fatal cut to his artery. Flight for Life transported Beckmann but the injury was too severe.
An investigation was conducted and DPW workers said Beckmann’s death changed OSHA standards to make safety changes that are in place today.
“It’s a memorial and was painted as a tribute. If it wasn’t done as a tribute, why did they paint it different than the other hydrants in town,” said Darwin Tackes who owns a duplex on Edgewood.
“I’m hoping it stays. It’s a memorial to mark something that happened.”
Questioned whether he agrees with moving it to the department of public works building, Tackes said, “People won’t know what it represents.”
Tackes said neighbors on the block talk about the hydrant and what happened over 20 years ago. He said new neighbors even know the story, because they ask.
“If they move it… too bad for the kid. Too bad for the mom,” said Tackes.
Four calls have been placed to the DPW and Ruth Mueller over the past two weeks. So far, no calls have been returned.
Below is a photo of the flagpole outside the DPW with a plaque that reads John Beckmann Memorial 2002.
As of Sunday evening, the memorial hydrant has been covered by a black plastic bag.
Do you think the hydrant should be saved as a memorial at Forest and Edgewood in West Bend, WI?
If the issue is painting the hydrant annually, would you be willing to help?
John was a close friend of ours. We still think of him often. It’s heartwarming to see that people are still remembering his legacy 23 years later.
As the owner of the property (then and now) that has the hydrant on the terrace, I personally would take responsibility for painting the hydrant in order to honor John and his tragic accident.