Douglas Leonard Goecke

Douglas Leonard Goecke, 73, passed away on October 9 at the Villa Del Sol Nursing Home in Marshalltown. His family and friends are celebrating his life story of an active man committed to family, community and agriculture. Services will be held at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown on Thursday, October 13 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow services at the Marietta Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 12 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed in his name to the family. Gifts will be directed to Iowa River Hospice, West Marshall School Foundation, Minerva Wesley Chapel, and the Central Iowa Fairgrounds. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234.Doug was born January 4, 1938, the son of John and Lucille Goecke. He has one sister, Kathy (Carroll) Snider. He graduated from Clemons High School in 1955. He attended Iowa State College and celebrated his 50 year class reunion in 2010 from the first graduating class of Iowa State University in 1960. After college Doug returned to the family farming operation with his dad. He continued farming for 45 years. Doug also joined the Army Reserves in January, 1961, for six months active and six year completing duty as a Spec 5. He was joined in marriage on October 7, 1962 to Audrey Anderson. They have two sons: Bill, 47, married to Shelley, and Chuck, 45. Doug and Audrey are proud grandparents of McKinze Lynn, 17, and Jake Douglas, 13. Dougs commitment to community service was demonstrated by the number of organizations he maintained affiliation with through the years. While at ISU he served as president of the Block and Bridle and AGR Fraternity. He also served on the Marshall County Extension, Marshall County Fair Board, and Marshall County 4-H committee. Doug was a charter member of the Central Iowa Jaycees, Marshall County Outstanding Young Farmer, West Marshall school board member, Marietta Township Trustee, State Center Lions Club, and lifetime member of the Minerva Wesley Chapel where he held many offices. He also enjoyed traveling to all states west of the Mississippi. He traveled to Hawaii in 1977, Panama in 2004 and an Alaskan road trip of 9,000 miles in 2005. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Audrey, of 49 years, his two sons; Bill (Shelley) Goecke and Chuck Goecke both of rural Marshalltown; grandchildren McKinze and Jake Goecke; his sister Kathryn (Carroll) Snider of rural Albion; father-in-law, Ralph Anderson, rural State Center; sister-in-law, Sally (Don) Wogen; brother-in-law, Denny Anderson, and four nephews and one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents and his mother-in-law.