Obit: Goeke, Harvey W. #2 (1933 - 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Goeke, Decker, Grum, Mahon, Dusso, Smith, Stafford

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/07/2015

Goeke, Harvey William (5 January 1933 - 29 December 2014) With Flag

Harvey W. Goeke, 81, of Greenwood passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 1014, at the House of the Dove in Marshfield with his wife, Phyllis, at his side.

Harvey William Goeke was born Jan. 5, 1933, on the family farm in the Township of Warner, rural Greenwood, to Frederick W. and Lydia (Decker) Goeke. He was raised on the family farm and received his education at the Decker Country School, graduating from Greenwood High School in 1951. He fondly remembered his high school years, frequently recalling lifelong friends made there and the experience of playing on championship football teams during that time. Harvey worked on the farm with his father until enlisting in the U. S. Army in 1954. He served until his honorable discharge in 1956 and came back to Greenwood to farm. He drove children to the Decker School for three years, an activity recalled by many of the local residents who rode with him.

Harvey was united in marriage to Phyllis N. Grum June 6, 1959, in Kiel. Soon after their marriage, they purchased his parents’ farm. While farming, Harvey attended Chippewa Valley Technical College and earned an associate degree in production agriculture under sponsorship of the G.I. Bill. In 1992, he sold his dairy cows and continued to raise crops and beef until 2008, at which time he was diagnosed with cancer, making it necessary to give up hard work. He then arranged to have his land lovingly planted and nurtured by a good friend and neighbor.

He served on the Warner Town Board for many years, as well as on the board of directors for Midland Co-op and North Hendren Dairy Co-op. He enjoyed this involvement, as he valued his community and associations and wanted to see them thrive. Harvey had many interests but especially loved farming. His mind and heart were perpetually focused upon the well-being of his animals and the land. It was his hope farmland and forestland in Wisconsin would be protected and preserved for the future generations.

His hobbies included playing in the old timer’s ball league, bowling, horseshoes and an occasional fishing trip with boyhood friends. He enjoyed traveling, having taken trips around the U.S., Europe, Canada, Scandinavia and Russia. His greatest pleasure was meeting farmers in other places.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Phyllis, of Greenwood; three nieces, Debra (Mike) Mahon of Manitowoc, Beverly Dusso of Minneapolis and Joy Smith of Madison; three nephews, Gerald (Chris) Goeke of Hartland, William (Donna) Dusso of Madison and William (Carol) Stafford of Somers; great nieces and nephews; brother-in-law Richard Grum of Stoughton; and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws; his sister and brother-in-law, Alice (Lorris) Dusso; his brother and sister-in-law, Gerald (Elda) Goeke; and nephew, James Dusso.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at noon at the Parkway Pines Supper Club in Greenwood, with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Greenwood Area Ambulance Service, Clark County 4-H clubs or the Clark County Humane Society would be greatly appreciated.

Online condolences may be expressed at: www.cuddiefh.com.  Cuddie Funeral Home of Greenwood is assisting the family with arrangements.