RONALD GOEKE   January 20, 2023

Ronald C Goeke, 95, of rural Ridott died Friday, January 20, 2023 surrounded by family.  Born in Dakota, IL, on June 24, 1927 the eldest son of Albert and Thera (Wise) Goeke.  He was a 1945 graduate of Dakota High School.  On June 12, 1949, he married Lucile Germain at the Dakota Community Presbyterian Church.

Ronald served in the US Army, stationed in Kobe, Japan from 1946-47, as a mechanic.  After the service, he attended trade school in Chicago.  He worked as an auto and tractor mechanic in the Freeport area until 1955.  Later that year, Ronald and Lucile moved onto her childhood farm, where he lived until his death.  He has been a long time member of both the Dakota Community Presbyterian Church and the Stephenson County Farm Bureau.

Ronald is survived by two sons, Dale (Karen) Goeke of Rochester, MN; Wayne (Linda) Goeke of Hudson, OH; one daughter, Lynne Pitts of Menasha, WI.  He had eight grandchildren: Charlie (Laura) Goeke, John (Katie) Goeke, Jessica (Aaron) Zschunke, Quincy Goeke (Josh Bleigh), Cooper Goeke, Keegan Goeke (fiancé Regina Saxon), Lindsey (Micah) Juedes, Sarah (Luke) Pan, and 14 great grandchildren, as well as brother-in-law Charles Laible.

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lucile, his brother and sister-in-law Reginald and Dottie Goeke, sister Carol Laible, his eldest son Arnold, and son-in-law Howard Pitts.

Friends may call from 4-6pm on Friday, January 27, at Daughenbaugh Funeral Home in Dakota, 115 S West Street.  Funeral service will be at 1:30pm on Saturday, January 28, at Dakota Community Presbyterian Church followed by burial in the Dakota Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Dakota Community Presbyterian Church, 210 N Church Street, Dakota, IL  61018, or to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, 251 Post Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA  94108.