Sylvia P. Goeser
November 15, 1922 — March 21, 2014
Sylvia Pauline Goeser was born on November 15, 1922 to Peter and Clara (Bock) Gubbels in Westphalia, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia where she remained a life-long member. She attended and graduated from St. Boniface Catholic School.
On May 5, 1942, Sylvia was united in marriage to Edmund Goeser. They had five children born to them: Jolene, Jane, Mary Lou, Jim, and Bruce.
Sylvia was an active leader in the 4-H Clubs that her children were part of, she assisted at the Pro-Life booth at the Shelby County Fair, and enjoyed being a member of the Happy Hour Senior Citizen Club and the 500 Card Club.
When her children were older, she worked at Holiday Buffet, was a dietary aide at the Baptist Memorial Home, and reported Westphalia news for years for the Harlan newspaper.
She was an active member of St. Boniface Catholic Church her entire life, serving as an officer of the Altar and Rosary Society and setting up funeral dinners. Sylvia and Ed helped restore and furnish the historic Flusche House and were the caretakers for many years.
Sylvia loved gardening and tending to her flowers, crossword puzzles, embroidery, sewing, and quilting which she did for sixty years. She and Ed were able to travel to forty-eight states and visited Canada. Her main enjoyment was spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all children she met and especially liked playing card games with them.
After Ed’s death in 2005, Sylvia remained in their home until her death on Friday, March 21, 2014. She had attained the age of ninety-one years, four months, and six days. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two sons-in-law Chuck Goetzinger and Steve Keitel; her sister Sabina Conrad; and brothers Peter Gubbels, Alvin Gubbels, Cyril Gubbels, Ambrose Gubbels, and Fr. Richard Gubbels.
She is survived by her children: Jolene and her husband Joe O’Tool of Alpha, Illinois, Jane Goetzinger of Westphalia, Iowa, Mary Lou Keitel of Davenport, Iowa, Jim Goeser and his wife June of Omaha, Nebraska, and Bruce Goeser and his wife Julie of Westphalia, Iowa; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; sisters: Virginia Lickteig of Denison, Iowa, Helen Wubbenhorst of Harlan, Iowa, and Mary Ann and her husband Francis Koesters of Earling, Iowa; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Dorton celebrated the 10:30 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa, with ConCelebrants Rev. Wayne Gubbels and Deacon Joe O’Tool. Music was provided by Gloria Schmitz, Jan Rau, the St. Boniface Choir, Ron and Maria Rosman, and Lorene Kaufman. Serving as casket bearers were Ron O’Tool, Ed Goetzinger, Kevin O’Tool, Ken Keitel, Joshua Goeser, Brian Keital, Jerod Goeser, and Greg Goeser. Interment was held at the St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia.
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On May 5, 1942, Sylvia was united in marriage to Edmund Goeser. They had five children born to them: Jolene, Jane, Mary Lou, Jim, and Bruce.
Sylvia was an active leader in the 4-H Clubs that her children were part of, she assisted at the Pro-Life booth at the Shelby County Fair, and enjoyed being a member of the Happy Hour Senior Citizen Club and the 500 Card Club.
When her children were older, she worked at Holiday Buffet, was a dietary aide at the Baptist Memorial Home, and reported Westphalia news for years for the Harlan newspaper.
She was an active member of St. Boniface Catholic Church her entire life, serving as an officer of the Altar and Rosary Society and setting up funeral dinners. Sylvia and Ed helped restore and furnish the historic Flusche House and were the caretakers for many years.
Sylvia loved gardening and tending to her flowers, crossword puzzles, embroidery, sewing, and quilting which she did for sixty years. She and Ed were able to travel to forty-eight states and visited Canada. Her main enjoyment was spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all children she met and especially liked playing card games with them.
After Ed’s death in 2005, Sylvia remained in their home until her death on Friday, March 21, 2014. She had attained the age of ninety-one years, four months, and six days. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two sons-in-law Chuck Goetzinger and Steve Keitel; her sister Sabina Conrad; and brothers Peter Gubbels, Alvin Gubbels, Cyril Gubbels, Ambrose Gubbels, and Fr. Richard Gubbels.
She is survived by her children: Jolene and her husband Joe O’Tool of Alpha, Illinois, Jane Goetzinger of Westphalia, Iowa, Mary Lou Keitel of Davenport, Iowa, Jim Goeser and his wife June of Omaha, Nebraska, and Bruce Goeser and his wife Julie of Westphalia, Iowa; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; sisters: Virginia Lickteig of Denison, Iowa, Helen Wubbenhorst of Harlan, Iowa, and Mary Ann and her husband Francis Koesters of Earling, Iowa; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Dorton celebrated the 10:30 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa, with ConCelebrants Rev. Wayne Gubbels and Deacon Joe O’Tool. Music was provided by Gloria Schmitz, Jan Rau, the St. Boniface Choir, Ron and Maria Rosman, and Lorene Kaufman. Serving as casket bearers were Ron O’Tool, Ed Goetzinger, Kevin O’Tool, Ken Keitel, Joshua Goeser, Brian Keital, Jerod Goeser, and Greg Goeser. Interment was held at the St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia.
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