Joan B. Goeke, 80

Joan B. Goeke

Elmore Joan B. Goeke, age 80, of Elmore, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Funeral Services were held Jan. 18, 2013, at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore. The Rev. Robert Roettger officiated. Burial was in Riverview Cemetery in Elmore. Jacobsen & Winter Funeral Home in Blue Earth assisted the family with the arrangements.

Joan Bernadine was born Oct. 14, 1932, to John D. and Bernice (Amerson) Johnson in Hardy, Iowa.

On April 21, 1957, she married Eldon Goeke, at the Good Hope Lutheran Church in Titonka, Iowa. From this union, they were blessed with two children.

Joan had been a nurse and anesthetist since 1954 and just recently renewed her license. She practiced in Buffalo Center and the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She taught medical careers at the Blue Earth Area Vocational Center for 25 years. She was also instrumental in getting hospice started in Faribault County, where she also volunteered. She is also co-founder of the Interfaith Caregivers volunteer program and served as board chairman for 10 years. Joan organized and taught classes entitled “The Savvy Caregiver”, for families of Alzheimer’s patients. She started a Parkinson’s support group for both the community and at St. Luke’s which is supported by the Struthers Parkinson’s Center.

Joan was also very active in many activities at church, including directing the choir. She directed and had roles in many of the Elmore Community plays (melodramas). She and Eldon gave rides to people in need, assisted with meals on wheels and she also worked in the UHD gift shop.

Among her many achievements were receiving the Faribault County Senior Citizen of the year award, the Woman of Achievement award, and vocational teacher of the year.

Joan will be greatly missed by her husband,?Eldon, of Elmore; children, Jacque Rieffer, of Elmore, and Dr. James (Lynn) Goeke, of Salem, Ore.; grandchildren, Toni and Randi Rieffer, and David and Daniel Goeke; her adopted family, Dr. James and Julie Laferriere and their children, Elizabeth and Nicole, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. Everyone she knew she considered family.

She is preceded in death by her parents; many aunts; uncles; cousins and close friends.

Online condolences can be left at www.winterfuneralhome.com