August 21, 1935 – Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Service Information
Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Middleville Township
Saturday, November 4, 2017
11:00 A.M.
Visitation Information
AT THE CHURCH
Friday, November 3, 2017
4-8 P.M.
Arnold Walter Goerke, age 82, of rural Maple Lake passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at Abbott- Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
He was born on August 21, 1935 in Chatham Township, Wright County the son of Theodore and Clara (Bartels) Goerke.
He was baptized in September of 1935 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Middleville Township. He was also instructed in the Lutheran Catechism and confirmed in The Christian faith on May 15, 1949 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. His confirmation memory verse was 1st Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Arnie graduated from Concordia High School in St. Paul in 1953 and Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois in 1958.
On August 2nd, 1958, Arnold W. Goerke and Ruth E. Ladda were joined in holy marriage at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Middleville Township. God blessed their marriage with four daughters.
Arnie was a school teacher and taught at Immanuel Lutheran School in Heplar, Kansas, First Trinity Lutheran School in Beatrice, Nebraska and Anoka-Hennepin District #11 for twenty eight years. He retired in 1997 from teaching. In January of 1998, Arnie began working at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo.
He was a faithful, longtime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Middleville Township where he served as an Elder, Financial Secretary and Chairman. He presently served on the Cemetery Board.
Arnie also served twenty-four years as a supervisor for Chatham Township.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survived by his loving wife of fifty-nine years: Ruth E. Goerke; daughters: Deborah (Jim) Schaufler of Maple Lake, Rebecca (Mark) Himmelspach of Clearwater, Karla Walberg of Buffalo and Renee (Daren) Demarais of Maple Lake; eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren; brothers: Ted (Gladys) Goerke of Osseo and Vic (Lettie) Goerke of Wichita, Kansas; sisters: Evelyn Leahy of Buffalo and Ruth (Don) Woolhouse of Mesa, Arizona; sisters-in-law: Deloris Goerke of Buffalo and Elsie Dalbec of St. Paul; many other relatives and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Ervin Goerke and Reinhardt Goerke Sr., brother-in-law: Kerry Leahy, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Wally & Sadie Goerke and by a brother-in-law Tony Dalbec.
Funeral services for “Arnie” Goerke will be held on Saturday, November 4th, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Middleville Township. Pastor Rob Jarvis will officiate.
Interment Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery.
Jeanette Beckala will be the organist for the funeral service.
A visitation will be held AT THE CHURCH from 4-8 P.M. on Friday, November 3rd. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 P.M.
Honorary Casket Bearers will be the four granddaughters: Amber Remer, Ashley Remer, Heather Schaufler and Kaylee Walberg.
Casket Bearers will be the seven grandsons: David Barstow, Ryan Remer, Spencer Wright, Steven Walberg, Jaret Demarais, Justin Demarais and Jayce Demarais.
Dear Ruth and family,
We are so sorry to hear of Arnie’s passing. We will not be in Minnesota to offer our condolences and attend his funeral, but want you to know that we wish you our deepest sympathy and God’s Blessings. We are at our daughter Tracy’s in Arizona for a few more weeks. Dave & Jeannie Dixon
Arnie. Always a pleasant person to talk to. If you met him up town, out by the lake, or at Cenex when I was the General Manger there. He always had a warm smile. You will be missed.
Dear Ruth and Family, our deepest condolences, Arnie was a dear man I had the pleasure of meeting at Peterson Chapel, I worked with him on a number of services, always a gentleman, with a sweet smile and great vigor for his work.He will be missed, May GOD sustain you and your family! May God Bless!