GOERTZEN
John
Aug. 7, 1935 - Feb. 15, 2014
John Goertzen passed away peacefully at the Red Deer Regional Hospital on February 15, 2014, with his youngest daughter Della at his bedside, at the age of 78 years old. John was born in Gretna, Manitoba on July 25, 1935 to Frank and Justina Goertzen. John was one of ten children with three brothers and six sisters. John is survived by his four children, Cindy Corney, (Paul) of Vancouver, Blair Goertzen (Lyn) of Red Deer, Denise Nielsen (Grant) of Blackfalds, and Della Graham (Kelly) of Red Deer. John is also survived by three sisters, Susan Morden, Jessie Janzen and Annette Towns (George) as well as one brother-in-law, Jim Duckworth (Violet) of Lacombe. John was the proud grandfather of 12 grandchildren, Jamea, Nathan, Graison, Hayley, Emma, Sarah, Kate, Steven, Ryan, Justina, Kane and Nicole, in addition to three great grandchildren. At the age of 15 in 1950 John headed west from Manitoba to find work in Alberta in the early years of the oil and gas boom that was just starting. John met Shirley Duckworth in 1954 on the telephone when she was an "operator" in Olds. From that meager greeting the two were married on September 29, 1956 for 50 years until Shirley's sudden passing in 2006. The loss of Shirley was devastating to John and that void in his life was never filled. They are together again now. John spent years in the oil industry in various capacities highlighted by years working in the Canadian Arctic and even offshore on the east coast of Canada. On one occasion, during his days off, the Ocean Ranger was lost. His service to that industry spanned five decades. John was a family man who loved to camp at Gull Lake surrounded by his kids and grandchildren. He loved to take trips on his motorcycle or just enjoy time at the BBQ preparing steaks for the entire family.
John will be missed by all who loved him.
Funeral Services will be held at Wilson's Funeral Chapel, 6120 Highway 2A, Lacombe on Saturday, February 22 at 11:00 a.m. Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Deer Unit, #101, 6751-52 Ave., Red Deer, AB. T4N 4K8. Expressions of sympathy may be made by visiting www.wilsonsfuneralchapel.ca
WILSON'S FUNERAL
CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM,
of Lacombe and Rimbey in charge of the arrangements. 403-782-3366 403-843-3388
"A Caring Family,
Caring For Families"