Educator.
Born at Kropp, Germany in 1896, son of Rev. Frederick Beer (c1843-1919) and Katherine Beer (c1862-1925), the family immigrated to Winnipeg when he was one year old, later moving to Saginaw, Michigan where he attended elementary school. The family moved to Ottawa (Ontario) then to Brandon where he attended Brandon College. He later received a BA degree in languages from Queen’s University (Kingston).
He taught at Bagot School and Pipestone School then was the Principal of Miniota School (1922-1924) and Benito School (1924-1926). In 1926, he moved to Winnipeg where he taught successively at Lord Roberts School (1926-1927), Machray Junior High School (1927-1929), Gordon Bell School (1930), St. John’s High School (1930-1967), and the University of Manitoba. He retired in 1969.
On 29 June 1923, he married schoolteacher Lilyan Mildred Borland (1899-1991, youngest daughter of Thomas Borland) at Miniota and they had a son, James Ernest Beer (1925-?). He was a member of Westminster United Church, Wildewood Club, and Tuxedo Lawn Bowling Club.
He moved to Calgary, Alberta in August 1975 where he died on 20 December 1978 and was buried.
Birth registrations [Lillian Mildred Borland, James Junior Ernest Beer], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [David Grederick John Beer, Katherine Beer], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [James William Beer, Lillian Mildred Borland], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 28 December 1978, page 31.
Obituary [Lilyan Mildred Beer], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1991, page 31.
We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 30 April 2026
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