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- [S146] Staff, Obituary: Goetz, James Wilfred, (Name: Daily Press, The; Location: St. Marys, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States; Date: 10JUN2015;), Obituary: Goetz, James Wilfred. 10JUN2015.
James Wilfred Goetz, 89, died Sunday, June 7, 2015, at the Gallagher Center of St. Mary's Home of Erie - East. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on September 4, 1925, to Saint Marys, Elk County, Pennsylvania natives Alfred M. and Loretta Lenze Goetz.
In 1934, the family moved from Cleveland to Elk County, and took up residence at the Lenze Farm at 230 Paul Street, in Saint Marys. James worked the "Golden Harvest Dairy Farm" until he entered the Navy in 1943.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, James resided in Erie, Pennsylvania, working in the insurance business and at General Electric. On October 31, 1946, in St. Walburga's Church in Titusville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, he married Mary Elizabeth Coady. Two children were born of this union: Linda Lee Goetz (Mrs. Richard F. Nowakowski) and James Michael Goetz (wife Margaret), both of Erie.
Ronda Lee Goetz (Mrs. David A. Nelson of Perris, Calif.) was born to James and Catherine "Kay/Katy" Yoder Goetz. After relocating to Riverside County, California, James worked for McDonnell-Douglas. He was a realtor in his retirement. He was predeceased by "Katy" on June 2, 2005. James remained in Sun City, California until February 2010, when he moved to Erie to live with his daughter and son-in-law. Since January 2013, he was a resident of St. Mary's Home of Erie, where the staff dubbed him "The Goodwill Ambassador," due to his calming demeanor.
Throughout 2011 and 2012, James enjoyed many trips to Elk County to reconnect with and meet family members. This ancestry journey was profiled in two (Saint Marys, Pennsylvania) Daily Press articles on October 8, 2011 and May 31, 2014.
James enjoyed listening to music, playing the harmonica, Sudoku, and jotting inspirational quotes on index cards.
In addition to his parents and step-granddaughter, Shelly Boochie, James was preceded in death by his brother, Alfred Joseph "Dick" Goetz on November 2, 2013 and a sister Elaine Helen Goetz, who passed away in Cleveland at the age of 14 months, on February 9, 1932.
In addition to his two daughters, Linda and Ronda, his son James, his daughter-in-law, Marge, his two sons-in-law Rich and David, and his brother's family, James is survived by a stepdaughter, Barbara Boochie, of California, four grandsons, Richard J. (Mary) of Dacula, Ga., Timothy (Eileen), Kevin (Kristin) and Matthew (Nicole) Nowakowski, all of Erie, a granddaughter, Deborah Goetz (Mrs. Jeremy Watson) of Clarksville, Tenn., and granddaughters, Lisa Nedreski and Wendy Smart of Erie. He was blessed with many great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters.
A Mass of Christian Burial for James Wilfred Goetz will be celebrated in St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 315 East 9th Street, Erie, on Thursday, June 11, 2015, with the Rev. John M. Fischer officiating. Visitation will be at the Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at 11:00 a.m. St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception was chosen as it was the site of the 1924 wedding of James' parents.
Arrangements are being handled by The Edward J. Garr Funeral Home, Inc., 459 East 12th Street, Erie, PA 16503.
Send condolences to garrdavisfuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be made to the Historical Society of Saint Marys and Benzinger Township, 99 Erie Ave., Saint Marys, PA 15857.
Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits
Daily Press, The: 10JUN2015
HFA: 04DEC2022
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1930 - 1932 (1 year)