Dorothy Goettel

Dorothy Y. Goettel, 92, of Harpers Ferry, IA, died Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at Thornton Manor in Lansing, IA. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 19th, at 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church in Waukon, IA, with Pastor Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing. Friends may greet the family from 9:00 AM until time of service at the church on Saturday. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon is handling arrangements.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the godly"- Ps. 116:15. Dorothy Yvonne Goettel was born on April 11, 1925 in Lansing, IA, the daughter of Leonard L. and Myrtle M. (Wendel) Sandry. She grew up in the Lansing area and graduated from Lansing High School in 1942. She worked at the Lansing Button Factory following school. On June 1, 1945, Dorothy married John Daniel Goettel at the Evangelical United Brethern Church in Lansing. Together they farmed on the Goettel Family Farm in Lafayette Township where they raised their family, milked cows, and raised beef cattle, hogs, and crops.

Dorothy served as a 4-H leader, was active in and secretary of AWANA for 35 years, and was a member of Farm Bureau and Eastern Star. Her vibrant faith was evidenced by the many ways she served at First Baptist Church in Waukon. She was a very caring person and dedicated to her family and friends, going out of her way to do whatever she could to help them.

Some of Dorothy's favorite activities were raising vegetable and flower gardens, sewing, and working word puzzles. She and John enjoyed traveling extensively in their retirement. Dorothy was also an avid reader, loved her pet cats, and enjoyed feeding and watching the birds.

Survivors include her children: Linda Goettel of Cedar Rapids, IA, Barb Goettel of Mason City, IA, Deb (Steve) Kiley of Harpers Ferry, IA, Jerri (Jeff) Krezine of Wausau, WI, and Jeff (Elaine) Goettel of Harpers Ferry; 8 grandchildren: Dan and Jared Kiley, Sarah (Kurt) Gruetzmacher, Patrick Frank, Jeremy Johnson, and Aislinn, Gabriel, and Eireanne Goettel; 6 great-grandchildren: Wyatt and Johnathan Kiley, Sean Byrnes, and Paige, Tess, and Liam Gruetzmacher; her dear friend and caregiver Dana Waters of Waukon; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband John, who died in 2011; a granddaughter Karianne Kiley; and her siblings: Wayne and Harold Sandry and Norma Cahalan.

Honorary casketbearers are Jeremy Johnson, Johnathan Kiley, Steve Goettel, James Gruber Jr., Bruce ReVoir, John Schild, Dan Schmitt, and Bob Teff. Casketbearers are Dan Kiley, Jared Kiley, Patrick Frank, Wyatt Kiley, Sean Byrnes, Jeff Krezine, and Kurt Gruetzmacher.