Theresa Catherine Goetz
December 4, 1929 — January 1, 2016
Theresa Catherine Goetz was born on December 4, 1929 to Adolph and Theresa (Muschitz) Schmitz on the family farm outside of Westphalia, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia and attended St. Boniface Catholic School and graduated from high school with the Class of 1949.
On February 9, 1953, Theresa was united in marriage to Gerald Goetz at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia. Later that month, the couple moved to a farm east of Irwin, where they raised ten children: Theresa, Thomas, Dianna, Mary, Joseph, Lisa, John, Robert, Linda, and Gerald.
Theresa helped her husband on the farm, ran the household, and was an
avid baker with her homemade bread and rolls. Mom’s cookies and bars were big hits at school functions in Irwin. She was passionate about canning everything from her garden. Dad loved her jelly and mom loved pickles. It was not unusual to can a pickup load of sweet corn in one day.
She was also an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, serving as President on the women’s council, helping at church picnics, and teaching Sunday School.
Theresa died on Friday, January 1, 2016 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-six years and twenty-eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gerald, great-grandson Jordyn Thies, sisters: Mary Ann Klein, Dee Obrecht, Verdella Schill, Verelda Schwery, and brother Francis Schmitz.
She is survived by her children: Theresa and her husband Ron Hansen of Atlantic, Iowa, Thomas Goetz and his wife Fawn of Eatonville, Washington, Dianna Petersen of Manning, Iowa, Mary and her husband Bill Bartelson of Earlham, Iowa, Joe Goetz and his wife Kelly of Littleton, Colorado, Lisa and her husband Mark Wilke of Honey Creek, Iowa, John Goetz of Irwin, Iowa, Robert Goetz of Littleton, Colorado, Linda and her husband Mike Sousa of Eagle, Colorado, and Gerald Goetz and his wife Kristina of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; eighteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
On February 9, 1953, Theresa was united in marriage to Gerald Goetz at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia. Later that month, the couple moved to a farm east of Irwin, where they raised ten children: Theresa, Thomas, Dianna, Mary, Joseph, Lisa, John, Robert, Linda, and Gerald.
Theresa helped her husband on the farm, ran the household, and was an
avid baker with her homemade bread and rolls. Mom’s cookies and bars were big hits at school functions in Irwin. She was passionate about canning everything from her garden. Dad loved her jelly and mom loved pickles. It was not unusual to can a pickup load of sweet corn in one day.
She was also an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, serving as President on the women’s council, helping at church picnics, and teaching Sunday School.
Theresa died on Friday, January 1, 2016 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of eighty-six years and twenty-eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gerald, great-grandson Jordyn Thies, sisters: Mary Ann Klein, Dee Obrecht, Verdella Schill, Verelda Schwery, and brother Francis Schmitz.
She is survived by her children: Theresa and her husband Ron Hansen of Atlantic, Iowa, Thomas Goetz and his wife Fawn of Eatonville, Washington, Dianna Petersen of Manning, Iowa, Mary and her husband Bill Bartelson of Earlham, Iowa, Joe Goetz and his wife Kelly of Littleton, Colorado, Lisa and her husband Mark Wilke of Honey Creek, Iowa, John Goetz of Irwin, Iowa, Robert Goetz of Littleton, Colorado, Linda and her husband Mike Sousa of Eagle, Colorado, and Gerald Goetz and his wife Kristina of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; eighteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
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