Robert Goetsch, 98, of Harding, died Friday night, December 25, at the Ottawa Pavilion. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29, in St. Theresa Church in Earlville with the Rev. Bowan Schmitt, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Bob was born on Jan. 22, 1917, in Ottawa, to Joseph and Ethel (Aubry) Goetsch. He was a proud veteran of the Civilian Conservation Corps. After discharge from the CCC, he razed the Marshall Field home on Ottawa’s north hill, and then built some of the first homes in the Field’s Hill Subdivision.
He married Evelyn Pool on August 19, 1939, in the St. Columba Rectory. They moved to Harding in 1947, and owned and operated the Harding General Store from 1947 until closing in the 1980’s. He was a home builder and general contractor for more than 40 years. Bob was a long time member of St. Theresa Church and the Knights of Columbus. His favorite pastimes were playing cards, gardening, and being with his grandchildren.
He is survived by three children: Diane Eaton, of Arnold, Maryland, Carole (Jeremiah) Nagle, of Ottawa, and Randy (Susie) Goetsch, of Ottawa; 6 grandchildren, John (Dorothy) Mill, Elizabeth (Mike) Stover, Kelly (George) Shanley, Kerry (Dave) Kistenfeger, Shane (Mollie) Nagle, and Ryan Nagle, many step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, one brother, Louis (Barbara) Goetsch, 2 sisters, Louise Stremlau, of Mendota, and Shirley Argus, of Modesto, California.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn on September 21, 2005, a brother James, 2 sisters, Marjorie Fosse, and Bernice Koker, and grandchildren, Sean Nagle, and Greg Mill.
Pallbearers will be: John Mill, Shane and Ryan Nagle, George Shanley, Dave Kistenfeger, and Mike Stover.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Theresa Church.
Bob is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.