Ronald Goeke
Ronald A. Goeke, 96, of Waukon died Monday, December 21, 2020 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon from complications of COVID-19. Private family graveside services will be held Saturday, December 26 at Waterville Lutheran Cemetery in Waterville with Pastor Kim Thacker officiating. In consideration of concerns regarding COVID-19, social distancing and wearing of a mask is required.
Cards may be sent to Wendy Ebner at 984 Ebner Drive, Lansing, IA 52151 or to Randy Goeke at 654 Dry Hollow Road, Waterville, IA 52170. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.
Ronald Aaron Goeke was born March 21, 1924 in Waukon, the son of George and Gertrude (Shindoll) Goeke. He was raised on a farm in North Fork Hollow in rural Waukon, attended grade school at McCabe Jefferson #3 School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1942.
Ron was confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, where he sang in the choir. He left home at an early age, after his mother died, and worked for area farmers; Ron liked to tell stories of operating threshing machines at the age of 16. Ronald rode his motorcycle to Texas in the winters. June 16, 1951, he married Clarice Marie Tysland at the Waterville Lutheran Church, where he became a member and served on the church council.
Ron was a hard worker and held various jobs: hauling can and bulk milk, working for Purina Feeds and Meadowland Creamery, and doing maintenance work for Good Samaritan Center and Veterans Memorial Hospital, both in Waukon. He also farmed, raising horses and Ayrshire cattle. Later in life, he went to work for Design Homes in Prairie du Chien, WI, retiring at the age of 84.
In 2011, he moved to Southcrest Manor in Waukon and lived there until he moved to Northgate Care Center in Waukon in 2015. Ron enjoyed going to horse sales, coon hunting and pheasant hunting when he was younger.
His family was very important to him and he was very interested in his grandchildren’s lives. Ron was a kind and gentle person; he was the best dad and grandpa anyone could have and his family’s best friend. He will be greatly missed and he loved his family very much.
Survivors include his children: Wendy (Paul) Ebner of Lansing and Randy (Vicki) Goeke of Waterville; six grandchildren: Jacob Ebner, Andrew (Stephanee) Goeke, Troy (Esther) Pierce, Tony (Abigail) Pierce, Chris (Jason) Grady and Sandy Goeke; nine great-grandchildren: Gabriel Goeke, Hailey, Ahren, Rhett and Jase Grady, and Cai, Cortland, Abraham and Shepherd Pierce; a brother, Allen (Ella Mae) Goeke of Waukon; a sister, Karen Delatte of Madison, MS; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Clarice, who died in 1993; two sisters, Ruth Dotseth and Lorna Miller; a brother, Wesley Goeke; a sister-in-law, Carol Goeke; and three brothers-in-law, Vernon Miller, John Dotseth and Lawrence Tysland.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
