Goettel, Lloyd G.

Lloyd G. Goettel, 96, a resident of The Meth-Wick Community, died May 4, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital. Memorial services will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at First Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids. The Rev. Thomas E.S. Miller will officiate. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the church. Private family inurnment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Surviving are his children, Bruce (Sharon) Goettel of Virginia Beach, Va., and Dennis (Karla) Goettel, Steven Goettel and Susan Goettel, all of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Dan (Kelly) Goettel, Curtis (Vickie) Goettel, Lisa Goettel and Bryan (Kate Melloy) Goettel; great-grandchildren, Victoria, Austin and Georgia; brother, John (Dorothy) Goettel of Harpers Ferry; brother-in-law, Donald Ebinger of Flagstaff, Ariz.; and sister-in-law, Marjorie Ebinger of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Velma; sisters, Lois Munz and Alice Mae Schild; and brother, Arlyss Goettel.

Lloyd Gottlieb Goettel was born Feb. 2, 1914, on the farm homesteaded by his family in rural Allamakee County, Iowa, the son of Daniel and Esther (Hacklander) Goettel. He attended Prairie Lafayette School and was a 1931 graduate of Waterville High School. Before college he worked on the family farm. In 1938, he graduated from Western Union College (Westmar). He was united in marriage to Velma K. Ebinger on Sept. 10, 1938, in Des Moines. They shared 67 years of blessed marriage. Velma preceded him in death in 2005.

His teaching career spanned 43 years which included positions at Linn Grove, Thompson, and Mount Vernon schools. In 1943, he commenced 38 years of teaching in Cedar Rapids at Franklin High School/Junior High School. At Franklin Senior High School he was the head varsity track and sophomore football coach. When it became Franklin Junior High School he continued as freshman football and track coach. He officiated football and basketball games for 34 years and served as president of the Cedar Rapids Athletic Officials Association. For his athletic achievements he was inducted into the Westmar College Athletic Hall of Fame and received the Don Taft Memorial Award from the LFCA.

He was a gifted carpenter and many Cedar Rapids homes exhibit his craftsmanship. Lloyd was previously a member of Salem EUB Church. Since 1960, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder, trustee, Sunday school teacher and youth adviser, making many mission trips with the church's youth.

Upon retirement he and Velma managed the Linn County Community Food Bank for 10 years. He was a member of Lions Club International for 25 years where he served as the Sight Committee chairman. He won the Lion of the Year Award and received the Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellow Award for his humanitarian service to the community.

In 1992, he and Velma moved to Bella Vista, Ark., where they were members of the Bella Vista Presbyterian Church. In 2002, Lloyd and Velma returned to Cedar Rapids, making their home at The Meth-Wick Community.

Lloyd touched thousands of lives through his teaching, coaching, church and community. He lived his life in the comfort of God's love and grace. We know that he is now joyfully embraced by his Lord and all those faithful family and friends who have gone before.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following: First Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids; Horizons/Flood Them with Love, 819 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; or the Orville Rust Scholarship Fund at Washington High School.

The family would like to extend their grateful appreciation to the entire staff at St. Luke's Hospice for the extraordinary care given to Lloyd and his family.

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