Michael James Goetz
December 13, 1931 — July 31, 2014
Mike Goetz was born on December 13, 1931 to Joseph and Antonia (Schechinger) Goetz in Harlan, Iowa. He attended St. Boniface Catholic School in Westphalia and graduated with the Class of 1950.
He was drafted into the United States Army in November of 1952 and received an honorable discharge in November of 1954. On June 1, 1953, Mike was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Elaine Weihs. They became parents to five daughters: Cindy, Lori, Janice, Michelle, and Ann.
Mike farmed his entire life, had dairy cows, and had a farrow to finish hog operation. He loved watching sports, especially baseball. He was a catcher for the Westphalia Red Sox and was an umpire for the Westphalia White Sox for many years.
One of the things that delighted Mike was taking the kids that had worked for him to the College World Series which he did for many years. He enjoyed his grandchildren and was very proud of their achievements.
After retiring from farming, he drove a school bus for the Harlan Community School District until May of 2014.
Mike died on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He had attained the age of eighty-two years, seven months, and eighteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers: Walter, Gerald, and Anthony Goetz, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Elaine (Weihs) Goetz of Westphalia, Iowa; daughters: Cindy Finken and Jay Watts of Omaha, Nebraska, Lori and her husband Craig Graeve of Omaha, Nebraska, Janice and her husband Shawn Schoeneck of St. Joseph, Missouri, Michelle and her husband Brian Schmitz of Omaha, Nebraska, and Ann and her husband Chad Heithoff of Harlan, Iowa; twelve grandchildren: Jennifer (Finken) and her husband Patrick Moylan, Christopher Finken, Nick Graeve and his wife Jenna, Patrick Graeve, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Jacqueline Schoeneck, Megan (Schmitz) and her husband Joshua Berens, Bailey Schmitz, and Michael, Kate, and Alex Heithoff; three great-grandchildren: Kiera, Finley, and Brendan Moylan; sister Rita Doran of Corley, Iowa; sisters-in-law Mary Schmitz of Harlan, Iowa and Theresa Goetz of Irwin, Iowa; other family members and many friends and bus riders.
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He was drafted into the United States Army in November of 1952 and received an honorable discharge in November of 1954. On June 1, 1953, Mike was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Elaine Weihs. They became parents to five daughters: Cindy, Lori, Janice, Michelle, and Ann.
Mike farmed his entire life, had dairy cows, and had a farrow to finish hog operation. He loved watching sports, especially baseball. He was a catcher for the Westphalia Red Sox and was an umpire for the Westphalia White Sox for many years.
One of the things that delighted Mike was taking the kids that had worked for him to the College World Series which he did for many years. He enjoyed his grandchildren and was very proud of their achievements.
After retiring from farming, he drove a school bus for the Harlan Community School District until May of 2014.
Mike died on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He had attained the age of eighty-two years, seven months, and eighteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers: Walter, Gerald, and Anthony Goetz, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Elaine (Weihs) Goetz of Westphalia, Iowa; daughters: Cindy Finken and Jay Watts of Omaha, Nebraska, Lori and her husband Craig Graeve of Omaha, Nebraska, Janice and her husband Shawn Schoeneck of St. Joseph, Missouri, Michelle and her husband Brian Schmitz of Omaha, Nebraska, and Ann and her husband Chad Heithoff of Harlan, Iowa; twelve grandchildren: Jennifer (Finken) and her husband Patrick Moylan, Christopher Finken, Nick Graeve and his wife Jenna, Patrick Graeve, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Jacqueline Schoeneck, Megan (Schmitz) and her husband Joshua Berens, Bailey Schmitz, and Michael, Kate, and Alex Heithoff; three great-grandchildren: Kiera, Finley, and Brendan Moylan; sister Rita Doran of Corley, Iowa; sisters-in-law Mary Schmitz of Harlan, Iowa and Theresa Goetz of Irwin, Iowa; other family members and many friends and bus riders.
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