Wesley Goeke
Wesley Samuel Goeke, 86, lifelong resident of Waukon, died Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Inurnment will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. A celebration of Wes’s life will be held at a later date.
Martin Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences can be sent to Scott Ellingson, 951 East Third Street, Wanamingo, MN 55983. Memorials may be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital.
Wes Samuel Goeke was born September 22, 1933 in Waukon, the son of George and Gertrude (Shindoll) Goeke. He attended Waukon public schools and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class. Following high school, he served in the U.S. Army and trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
May 20, 1957, Wes married Ruth Carole Ellingson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They owned and operated the Tastee Bake Shop in downtown Waukon from 1957 to 1967. He then became manager of the bakery at the newly opened Red Owl in Waukon and worked there until 1981. Wes also farmed for many years growing crops and raising beef cattle. He later became co-owner of Lansing Land and Homes Real Estate until his retirement. Wes remained married to Carole until her death in 2014.
Wes was an avid gardener his whole life and loved the many fruit trees in his yard. He enjoyed his years working with Trees Forever and the Allamakee County Assessor’s board. He and Carole were avid fans of college football and basketball (especially the Cyclones and Hawkeyes) and enjoyed fishing together on the Mississippi River.
Wes enjoyed watching professional baseball, trout fishing and duck hunting. He remained immersed in financial news, history and current events.
Survivors include his children: Ken (Rachel) Ellingson of Mahtomedi, MN, Cindy (Mark) Grabe of Richfield, MN, Scott (Denise) Ellingson of Wanamingo, MN, Gwen (Frank) Milano of Plymouth, MN and Greg (Laura) Goeke of Maple Grove, MN; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ron Goeke and Allen (Ella Mae) Goeke; and a sister, Karen Delatte.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carole Goeke; his son, Warren Goeke; his daughter-in-law, Adeline Goeke; a granddaughter, Jaime Ellingson; a great-grandson, Ryan Ellingson; and two sisters: Ruth Dotseth and Lorna Miller.
