Charles Arthur Goeken

Charles Arthur Goeken, the son of Arthur G. and Jessie Polkingharn Goeken, was born June 11, 1922, at his parents home in Cass County near Marne, Iowa and died January 17, 2010 at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 7 months, and 6 days.
Charlie was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Marne, Iowa. He attended rural schools near Marne then graduated from the Atlantic High School with the Class of 1938. Charlie then helped operate the family farm. Also during this time Charlie became interested in aviation. The family built a runway and developed Goeken Airways which they operated for several years.
On March 14, 1944, he was united in marriage to Emma Jane Young in Atchison, KS. They lived near Marne and Charlie farmed until he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force on June 16, 1945. During his tour of duty he served stateside at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He was honorably discharged on July 6, 1946, and returned to the Atlantic area. In 1948 they moved to Audubon and lived in a converted building at the Audubon Airport and Charlie was employed at a local implement dealership in Audubon. In the early 1950s Charlie went into partnership with Willads Rattenborg and started Hi-Way Implement. Also during this time Charlie managed the Audubon airport. He retired from the implement business after operating it for over twenty-five years. Charlie then became the full-time manager of the Audubon Airport. He was an Ambassador for the community of Audubon and the surrounding area through the window of the airport. Jane died on September 26, 1996.
On April 5, 1998, he married Beverly Kline Wilson. They made their home at the airport which Charlie managed until he retired in June of 2006. On February 27, 2009, Charlie moved to the Friendship Home in Audubon.
Charlie had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon since April 2, 1953. He had served as an Elder and a Deacon at the church. Charlie was a member of the Audubon Post #120, American Legion, a past member of the Audubon Lions Club, and a past member of the Civil Air Patrol. He was the local Audubon observer for the National Weather Service, sending them reports on a daily basis. He was an accomplished pilot and a flight instructor who taught many people how to fly. He took aerial photos for the Natural Resources Conservation Service for many years. Charlie was a 50 member of the Veritas Lodge No. 392 A.F. & A.M. in Audubon, a 50 year member of the Exodus Lodge No. 342 A.F. & A.M. in Exira, Iowa, and a 50 year member of the Grove Lodge No. 492, A.F. & A.M. He was a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine and had recently received a permanent remit. Charlie had held all of the offices in the Lodges and had served as the Lodge Secretary in Audubon and Exira for many years. He was a 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star Exodus Chapter 313 in Exira and had served as past Patron. Charlie was one of Iowas aviation pioneers whose name is recorded at the Iowa Aviation Museum in Greenfield, Iowa.
Preceding him in death in addition to his wife Jane; were two infant sons; his parents; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Lucile Goeken, Samuel Young, Jr. and wife Mary, Lucien D. and wife Madeline Young, Vesta Davenport, and Virginia and husband Steve Webster. Beverlys family preceding in death were her husband DeWayne Wilson; her children: Tim Wilson and Trudy Patterson; an infant granddaughter; and her parents: Van and Myrtle Kline.
Survivors include his wife: Beverly Goeken of Audubon; his children: Dr. James and wife Dr. Nancy Goeken of North Liberty, Iowa, Richard and wife Nancy Goeken of Audubon, William and wife Laurie Goeken of Roanoke, Texas, Constance and husband Hugh Randall of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Kathryn and husband James Vincent of Wichita, Kansas; his grandchildren and great grand children: Kristin and husband Scott Christopherson and their baby Christopherson; Adam and wife Heidi Goeken and their daughter Adeline; Jeffrey and wife Priscilla Goeken and their son Dustin; Neal and wife Georgia Goeken and their children Jade, Mackenzie, Cassidy, Gabriel and baby; Kathleen Goeken and Steve Jensen and their daughters Genevie and Arianna; Peter Goeken and Kelly Goeken; Dana and husband Brian Stephens and their children Justin, Desiree, and Estus; Rachel Kenyon; Samuel and wife Tiana Cretsinger and their sons Dylan and Christian; and Michael and Matthew Vincent; his brother Robert Goeken of Walnut, Iowa.Beverlys family include her sons: Terry and wife Nancy Wilson of Exira and Taylor and wife Dee Wilson of Atlantic, Iowa, her daughter-in-law Beth Olsen and husband Frank of Exira; her son-in-lawDave Patterson of Austintown, Ohio;8 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; her brothers and sister: Gary and Barbara Kline of Bismarck, ND, Charles and Phyllis Kline of Harlan, Iowa, Jerry and Eloyce Kline of Griswold, Iowa and Connie and Glen Esbeck of Exira.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Brighton Township Cemetery near Marne, Iowa at 1:30 P. M.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Friday evening at 6:30 P.M. with a Masonic service at 7:00 P.M. followed by an Eastern Star service at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kay E. Steddom on January 23, 2010, at 10:00 A.M. at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa.