Ken Beachler, first director of Wharton Center and longtime arts advocate, dies at 87
Correction: A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, at the People's Church, 200 West Grand River Ave, East Lansing. That information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.
In the 60 years that Ken Beachler lived in the Lansing area, he worked tirelessly to promote and improve the arts. Nina Silbergleit, who worked with him at Wharton Center starting when she was 19, said, “He believed that music was able to transform the world. “
Beachler, 87, died June 6 from heart complications.
Beachler molded the arts in Lansing by creating the classical music format at WKAR-FM, founding and serving as the executive director of Wharton Center at Michigan State University, and acting and directing dozens of plays in almost every venue in mid-Michigan.
Born in Battle Creek, Beachler grew up in Belding. His father was in the lumber business.
Silbergleit called Beachler the consummate host when he worked at Wharton Center. “He instilled his usher staff with the idea that all patrons at Wharton should be greeted warmly, with a smile and a 'Good Evening', never a 'Hi.' He was passionate about the arts.”
David Brower, a longtime friend and retired chief financial officer at MSU said,” He was an icon in the Lansing area arts community for his acting, direction and generous financial support of the arts. He was a walking Google of information, which I experienced when attending concerts, plays or other musical performances with him.”
When Jody Knol, host at WKAR-FM, was a student at MSU, he listened to Beachler on the station and said to himself, “That’s the voice and style that I want to emulate when I do that job.”
The deep sonorous voice he heard became Beachler’s trademark and everyone recognized it. He emceed hundreds of events throughout the area and was the voice of the Lansing Concert Band concerts for 35 years.
In addition to his passion for the arts, Beachler also had a long and distinguished career in the military. He was in the Army and performed shows throughout Europe during the 1950s and then joined the Navy and Navy Reserves. He attained the rank of captain.
“He had a feeling for the folks he worked with," said Tom Ferris, a board member at Riverwalk Theatre. "He was welcoming and supportive – you couldn’t ask for a better guy. It speaks to his knowledge, talent and character.”
Actor and singer Don Graybiel said, “He was a very thorough director and maintained a very high standard. He was demanding, but his result was always good. He demanded perfection from himself and the people around him.”
As president of Lansing Rotary Club, Beachler always brought in local and visiting singers and entertainers to provide music at the Rotary lunches. It embodied his relentless drive to improve the arts and the community in Lansing.
The crowning glory of his career, however, remains the Wharton Center. He worked very closely with then MSU president Clifton Wharton and his wife, Delores, to open the performing arts center.
“Tuesday evening a brilliant star went dark, leaving absent a treasured glow," Delores Wharton said by email. "Through his life, Ken shared his passion of theater arts as one of life rewards.”
Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23 and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24 at the People's Church, 200 West Grand River Ave, East Lansing. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. at the church with a luncheon following at the University Club of Michigan State University.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ken Beachler, first executive director of Wharton Center, dies at 87
