Dr. Scott T. Becker

Dr. Scott Thomas Becker, age 40, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 21, 2020. Because he had so much more life to live, our grief is intense. He will live on in our memories forever.

Scott was born to parents Terry Becker and Karen Oldenski on June 3, 1980, in Berwyn, Illinois. He grew up in Orland Park, Illinois, alongside his trusty sidekick, his brother, Terry, and attended Kruse Elementary School and graduated from Carl Sandburg High School in 1998.

After attending St. Xavier University in Chicago for 1 year, he later graduated from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, with a bachelor’s degree in biophysics, and in 2010, he earned his DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine) from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois in Urbana.

After participating in an internship program at a specialty practice in Illinois, Scott joined the staff of Bremen Animal Hospital in Tinley Park, Illinois, in 2012, where he worked until 2019.

As of July 2019, Scott joined IDEXX laboratories as a consulting diagnostic support veterinarian. With his expert knowledge of laboratory interpretation, he has been guiding practicing veterinarians from all over North America on diagnostic testing.

His family, friends, clients, and coworkers often referred to him as “Dr. Scott.” He was compassionate, dedicated, thoughtful, and always went the extra mile to answer even the most difficult of veterinary cases.

Scott played hockey while he attended Carl Sandburg High School and also in his time at St Mary’s in Winona, Minnesota. Scott had a love/hate relationship with the Chicago Bears but nonetheless never missed a game. He loved to write songs/poems and would often play his guitar and ukulele as a form of stress relief after a long day.

But life truly began when he met the love of his life, Kathryn (Kate) Becker (Ziegler). A nurse, later to become a critical care nurse practitioner, she and Scott married on October 26, 2013, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Orland Park, Illinois. It was the most beautiful fall day, and they danced their little hearts out all night.

Their love knew no bounds. Scott and Kate were truly soulmates. The first night they met, they did not exchange numbers, but both went home to wake up their parents to tell them they met their future wife/husband. Nine months later, they got engaged on the top of the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. A few months after their wedding, they adopted two of the biggest blessings of their lives, Pickles and Bucket.

Scott would tell Kate every day how much he loved her. He would write her the sweetest poems each year for her birthday. Two years ago, they built their dream home in Manhattan, Illinois, and were looking forward to starting a family together. Despite the stressors of 2020, as of last year, Scott was able to work from home, which allowed Scott and Kate to have more time to create special memories together. And for that she will always be grateful.

Scott is survived by his wife, Kate; his parents, Terry and Karen; his brother, Terry (Amy) Becker; niece, Allie Becker; his father- and mother-in-law, Mark and Karen Ziegler; sister-in-law, Taylor Ziegler; and numerous supportive and loving friends, family, and co-workers whom Scott treasured more than anything.

Family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, IL 60423 on Sunday, September 27, 2020 from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM. WEARING A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND. Due to COVID-19 the mass at St. Francis of Assisi will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Dr. Scott Becker’s Go Fund Me page would be appreciated (https://gf.me/u/y2cv4i). Both Scott and Kate spent their 9 years together dedicated to caring for their patients. It was a dream of theirs to open an animal rescue together one day. In lieu of flowers/food, please consider donating to help Kate and the Becker/Ziegler families to make this dream a reality. We want Scott’s memory to live on as well as his love for animals. If you are unable to donate, please share this link and please pray for Kate and the Becker/Ziegler families as they cope with unimaginable loss.

We will miss Scott’s million-dollar smile, curly hair, and superb dances moves, but they
certainly will never be forgotten. He will forever be our Pookie.