Leonard Leo Goeke

December 16, 1929 - August 13, 2017

Leonard Leo Goeke age 87, of Algonquin, IL, formerly of Washington, IA, died Sunday, August 13, 2017 at his residence following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 18, 2017 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington. Calling hours will begin noon Thursday, August 17, 2017 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Interment with Military Honors will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday at the Pleasant Township Cemetery in Ewart, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the One Eighty Teen Center in Washington, Iowa. Online condolences may be sent for Leonard’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Leonard Leo Goeke was born December 16, 1929 in Geneseo, IL to Arthur and Neva (Boyd) Goeke, being the fourth of eight children. At the age of ten, he had moved eleven times finishing fifth grade at Montezuma, IA. After graduating from eighth grade at Scott #7 Country School, he stayed home to help his parents for four years. He did odd jobs, and while working at the lumber yard scooping coal, he decided to obtain his high school education. In January 1951, Leonard enlisted in the U.S. Navy and reported to the Great Lakes Training Center for boot camp. In March 1951, he was assigned to the USS Cascade AD16 at the Philadelphia Naval Yard. Later, he attended SK Supply School in San Diego, CA. He completed his high school education from Montezuma High School while in service. On April 23, 1951 he married the love of his life, Annagrace Arnaman, in Millbourne, PA. They lived in Philadelphia, PA and after serving four years in the Korean Conflict, he was honorably discharged in 1955. The couple returned to Montezuma, IA where they farmed ten years and welcomed three sons, Randall Leon, Terrell Anthony and Bennett Jay, to their household. They moved in 1966 to Washington, IA and continued to farm. A daughter, Rosaleen Annette, was born April 23, 1967 on their 16th Wedding Anniversary. The Goeke’s purchased and moved to a smaller farm in 1972 when he became employed with Northrup King Seed Company, working 24 years in soybean research and retiring in 1995. His greatest joy and satisfaction outside of his family was inventing research equipment for the company. They moved to a retirement community located in Illinois, “The Clarendale of Algonquin”, in October 2016 to be closer to family. During their married years, the Goeke’s reaffirmed their wedding vows on their 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and most recently their 66th anniversary in April 2017. He was a member of the Ewart and Washington United Presbyterian Churches, serving as an ordained Elder and Deacon. At Washington, he served on the Building Committee, Pulpit Committee, sang in the choir and participated on the Council of Religious Affairs. In later years, he happily served as usher in the church. He enjoyed children and taught Sunday school for many years. Knowing Leonard, you realized his faith in the Lord was always sincere and never questioned. Leonard was a member of the American Legion Post No. 29. As a Rotary member for 28 years, he held the office of Director of Community Services, was a Paul Harris Fellow and received the Rotarian of the Year Award in 1995. His numerous hobbies included woodworking, playing cards, and traveling. Pastimes included singing and dancing to country music. With his personality, he never met a stranger and his talents were unlimited. Some of his work can be seen in the United Presbyterian Church. Birdhouses were his specialty, but he enjoyed little children and made wooden toys to distribute to young and old alike as Santa Claus. It was his joy to visit individual children events, hospitals, care centers and individual families. After retiring, Leonard composed a book of poems he had written throughout the years entitled, “Poems From the Heart” and also wrote his autobiography named appropriately, “A Different Life”. A dream came true by having a book signing in 2010. Leonard is survived by his wife, Annagrace, of 66 years; three sons, Randall (Gloria) of Williamsburg, IA; Terrell (Linda) of Chicago, IL; Bennett (Alycia) of Edmond, OK; one daughter, Rosaleen (Jonathan) of Algonquin, IL; 12 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great grandchildren. Also, by three brothers Kenneth (Betty) of Florence, SC; Donald (Carol) of Rio Linda, CA; David of Vinton, IA; one sister, Beverly of Montezuma, IA; several nieces; nephews; and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ardella; and two brothers, Arthur and Keith. Romans 13:10 “Love does no wrong to anyone, that’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements. It is the only law you need.”