James E. Goetz

Jim Goetz died December 17, 2013 in Odessa.

He was born a few miles north of Odessa on April 16, 1918. His parents were Emanual and Matilda (Almer) Goetz, known as Tillie. Jim was the oldest of five brothers and outlived all of them.

He farmed most of his life on the family farm north of Marlin. He joined the Army in 1942 and while stationed in Texas met and married his wife of 71 years, L. Geraldine Smith, known as Jerry. Jim was wounded in combat in the Philippines and received the Purple Heart. After the war he returned to Marlin where he and Jerry farmed the family farm and raised three sons, Tom, Terry and Greg. In 1965, Jim and Jerry moved to Odessa where Jim worked for the Lincoln County road crew until his retirement.

He is survived by his wife L. Geraldine (Jerry) Goetz and his sons Tom, Terry and Greg, daughters-in-law Jeanne and Lynn and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 4, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Heritage Church in Odessa, with Pastor Jon Hayashi officiating. Interment will be held at the Odessa Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Odessa Hospital Auxiliary or the Odessa Healthcare Foundation. Please sign the online guestbook at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home in Davenport is caring for the family.