Cletus A. "Clete" Goeckner (84) of Effingham

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Published on June 27 2019 9:06 am

Cletus A. “Clete” Goeckner, 84, of Effingham, IL, passed away early in the evening Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 1 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Bishop Creek. Burial will be in St. Aloysius Cemetery with military rites. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the church followed by visitation until 7:00 p.m., and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Monday at the church prior to the service. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois or to the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.

Clete was the son of George and Rosa (Beckman) Goeckner. He was born on January 23, 1935, at his parents’ home in Effingham, Bishop Community. Clete was the eighth child of nine. He was united in marriage to Judith Kinkelaar on May 21, 1960, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. To this union six children were born: Carolyn (Don) Clark of Beecher City, Tony (friend, Rita Mette) Goeckner of Teutopolis, Polly (Richard) Locey of Newton, Roy Goeckner, who died in 1996, Lee (Amy) Goeckner of Dieterich, and Jed (Lori) Goeckner of St. Peter.

Clete was active in the Illinois National Guard from 1955-1961. He was a member of the Effingham American Legion Post 120, Effingham Knights of Columbus Council 665, Effingham County Farm Bureau, a former Watson Township Clerk, and a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Bishop Creek, his entire life.

From farming with horses and mules to modern style GPS, farming has been his life. He was a dairy and grain farmer, raised hogs and steers, and also had a herd of Herford cattle at one time. A jack of all trades, he was a carpenter, electrician, plumber, veterinarian, mechanic, and story teller.

Clete was an active farmer all his life only retiring a few years ago. After retiring his opinions were still freely given. Jeep riding, seining ponds, and frog gigging with family and friends were some of his favorite past times along with goose hunting down south and deer hunting at South Fork. He enjoyed watching college basketball. His favorite card games were pinochle, pitch, rummy, and Uno.

Sunday drives with Judy and having little gas in the “Caddy” was a usual occurrence while wearing his cowboy hat. Another joy was taking his grandchildren to the Illinois State Fair.

Clete is survived by his wife, Judy Goeckner of Effingham; 5 children; grandchildren, Katie Dilger, Kari (Thad) McElroy, Kyle (Kendra) Clark, Teneale Clark, Taylor (Kyle) Feldkamp, Lance Clark, Brittany Goeckner, Wyatt Goeckner, Ryan (Jodi) Locey, Ashley (Chris) Rush, Lacey (Chris) Sowers, Danielle Locey, Lauren (Matt) Lustig, Brett (Megan) Goeckner, Dunavun Goeckner, Elizabeth Abbott, Katie (Ryan) Schmollinger, Kellie (Jacob) Linder, and Kacie Crain; great-grandchildren, Zach Apke, Olivia Fulk, Colton McElroy, Paxton Clark, Holden Clark, Everly Clark, Roy Feldkamp, Brooke Locey, Blake Locey, Maddie Goss, Chloe Sowers, Harper Sowers, Gunnar Lustig, London Lustig, Bronx Goeckner, Nora Schmollinger, Ella Schmollinger, Lorelei Linder, and one great-grandchild due in July; brother, Virgil Goeckner; sister, Marcie Burford; sister-in-law, Joan Goeckner; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Roy; brothers, Ambrose, Adolph (Mary Lou), and Ralph; sisters, Florence (Leonard) Schumacher, Laura (Hubert) Apke, and Alvena “Sister Mary Wilma” Goeckner; brother-in-law, Bernie Burford; and sister-in-law, Hilma Goeckner.

Clete was a husband of 59 years, a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a friend to many who will be sadly missed.