Harry Frank Goettsch, son of Harry J. and Anna (Reisman) Goettsch, was born in Gladbrook, Iowa. He died on Easter Sunday April 9, 2023, at the age of 103 years.
Harry graduated from Gladbrook High School in 1938. In 1940 he married Eva Timberlake, and they were the parents of one daughter, Judith Ann. Following Eva’s death, he married Trudy VanderPloeg Durlam and was a loving father to her three daughters, Kay, Jan, and Kim.
Harry served in the US Navy in WWII. He was on the USS Colbert and USS Blueridge in the South Pacific area. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
In 1947 Harry graduated from the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis, Missouri, and became a licensed Funeral Director in Iowa. He worked at 3 Iowa funeral homes: Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, Harrison Funeral Home in Maquoketa, and operated Goettsch Funeral Home in Gladbrook. In 1956 he took a sales position with Dubuque Casket Company. Harry retired in 1985, but enjoyed part-time work at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, Iowa. In 2014 Harry and Trudy moved to Friendship Village in St. Louis, Missouri, where they made many friends and enjoyed being close to family.
Harry enjoyed golf, woodworking, reading, and staying current with technology. He was a 50-year member of Scottish Rite, Shriners International, Masonic Lodge, Iowa Funeral Directors Association, and American Legion.
Harry Goettsch was preceded in death by his wife, Eva, his parents, three brothers, and two sisters. He is survived by his wife, Trudy, his four daughters and sons-in-law: Judith (Keith) Twedt of Nevada, Iowa, Kay (Randall) Cappos of St. Louis, Missouri, Jan (Mike) Berch of Toledo, Washington, and Kim (Dave) Schaller of Columbia, Missouri; 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, Harry requested that donations be made to Shriners Hospital or the charity of your choice.
My wife and I met Harry and Trudy shortly after they moved into Friendship Village. We became friends and played many games of Bridge together. Harry indicated that he made peanut brittle and since I also made peanut brittle, we enjoyed talking about how we started making this stuff. I also made pies and tried to make a pie for Harry on his birthday’s, which he enjoyed immensely. Harry was a good person, and I will miss him greatly.
May God Bless his soul.