Goerzen, Alvin Willard (1922-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 Mar 21 p. 2; 2005 Mar 22 p. 2

Birth date: 1922

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 May 2 p. 11

text of obituary:

ALVIN WILLARD GOERZEN

Alvin Willard Goerzen, 82, of Goessel, Kan., died March 19, 2005. He was born June 17, 1922, to Jake and Sarah (Schroeder) Goerzen in Goessel.

He grew up on a farm near the Harvey/Marion County line. He was baptized June 1, 1941, at Tabor Mennonite Church, where he remained a member until his death. He graduated from Goessel High School in 1941.

He married Martha Friesen at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church on June 8, 1945. Shortly thereafter they went to Denison, Iowa, where he was assigned to Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector. During CPS he first developed his baking skills. After returning home, they began life on their own farm. He put in many hours of work each day, both on the farm and as a full-time sheet metal worker at Graber's Plumbing & Heating, where he was employed for almost 25 years.

After Martha's death in December 1980, and his retirement from farming and Graber's, he became a summer cook at Swan Lake Christian Camp in South Dakota. He spent nine summers there. In addition, he made a voluntary service trip to Bogota, Colombia.

Until he entered Bethesda Nursing Home in 2002, he enjoyed such activities as bowling and going to the Whistle Stop Cafe with his buddies, riding his bicycle, fishing with grandkids at the creek in his pasture and sharing his gift of cooking and baking. Additional ways he served his church and community included eight years as a deacon, 22 years on the Sandcreek watershed board and a few years of delivering Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include two daughters, Eileen Schmidt and her husband, Bruce, of rural Canton, and Beth Regehr and her husband, Wes, of Hesston; two sons, Ron and his wife, Susan, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Les and his wife, Cynthia, of rural Goessel; two brothers, Milt and Willis, both of rural Newton; a sister, Alice Funk of rural Goessel; and five grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at Tabor Mennonite Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.