Howard Gustav Goettsch
March 4, 1928 — April 28, 2018
Howard Gustav Goettsch, son of Gustav and Ethel (Andersen) Goettsch, was born March 4, 1928 at their family farm, 9 miles south of Walnut, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. He graduated from Walnut High School with the class of 1946.
On June 6, 1950, Howard was united in marriage with Mary Ann Koppold at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan. To this union, three children were born: Cynthia, Freddie and Robert. Howard and Mary Ann met at a dance in Defiance, Iowa. Their first date was New Years' Eve in 1947-48 at the ballroom in Avoca; above the car dealership on Main Street. August 22, 1950, three short months after their marriage, Howard's father, Gustav was killed in an automobile accident on his way to Atlantic. From this loss, Howard took over the family farm for over forty years. For the last 25 years, Howard and Mary Ann would travel to their home in Pharr, Texas for the winter months.
Howard had a big passion for woodworking, building bird houses, windmills and even wooden ink pens. He loved to golf, ballroom dancing, and playing cards. In his younger years he was a great snooker (pool) player which rekindled at their home in Texas. Howard was a man of few words, whose family always came first.
Howard passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Avoca Specialty Care Center, attaining the age of ninety years, one month, and twenty-four days. In addition to his parents, Howard is preceded in death by his sister Darlene Lafrentz.
Left to cherish his memory, his wife of sixty-seven years Mary Ann Goettsch of Walnut, IA; children Cindy (Dean) Fornoff of Springfield, NE; Fred (Mary Lou) Goettsch of Hancock, IA; Bob (Bernitta) Goettsch of Avoca, IA; grandchildren Nichole (Jim) Jansen and their children Kaleb and Alexis; Michaela (David) Bidrowsky and their daughter Makenna; Kyle (Jenny) Fornoff and their son Kamden; Anthony (Nicole) Goettsch; Cecilia (Josh) Schuler and their children Madeline, Molly and Mason; Stephanie (Brian) Geraghty and their children Caden, Cole and Hailey; Jeff (Rachel) Goettsch and their children Jake and Layne; Jennifer Goettsch; brothers-in-law Bob Lafrentz of Walnut, IA; Leonard Koppold (Sharon)of Allen, TX; Virgil Koppold of Woodbine, IA; sister-in-law Leona Ashbaugh of Henderson, NV; nieces and nephews, numerous relatives, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers family requests memorials be made to St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Walnut, Iowa.
On June 6, 1950, Howard was united in marriage with Mary Ann Koppold at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan. To this union, three children were born: Cynthia, Freddie and Robert. Howard and Mary Ann met at a dance in Defiance, Iowa. Their first date was New Years' Eve in 1947-48 at the ballroom in Avoca; above the car dealership on Main Street. August 22, 1950, three short months after their marriage, Howard's father, Gustav was killed in an automobile accident on his way to Atlantic. From this loss, Howard took over the family farm for over forty years. For the last 25 years, Howard and Mary Ann would travel to their home in Pharr, Texas for the winter months.
Howard had a big passion for woodworking, building bird houses, windmills and even wooden ink pens. He loved to golf, ballroom dancing, and playing cards. In his younger years he was a great snooker (pool) player which rekindled at their home in Texas. Howard was a man of few words, whose family always came first.
Howard passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Avoca Specialty Care Center, attaining the age of ninety years, one month, and twenty-four days. In addition to his parents, Howard is preceded in death by his sister Darlene Lafrentz.
Left to cherish his memory, his wife of sixty-seven years Mary Ann Goettsch of Walnut, IA; children Cindy (Dean) Fornoff of Springfield, NE; Fred (Mary Lou) Goettsch of Hancock, IA; Bob (Bernitta) Goettsch of Avoca, IA; grandchildren Nichole (Jim) Jansen and their children Kaleb and Alexis; Michaela (David) Bidrowsky and their daughter Makenna; Kyle (Jenny) Fornoff and their son Kamden; Anthony (Nicole) Goettsch; Cecilia (Josh) Schuler and their children Madeline, Molly and Mason; Stephanie (Brian) Geraghty and their children Caden, Cole and Hailey; Jeff (Rachel) Goettsch and their children Jake and Layne; Jennifer Goettsch; brothers-in-law Bob Lafrentz of Walnut, IA; Leonard Koppold (Sharon)of Allen, TX; Virgil Koppold of Woodbine, IA; sister-in-law Leona Ashbaugh of Henderson, NV; nieces and nephews, numerous relatives, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers family requests memorials be made to St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Walnut, Iowa.
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