WALT was a great teacher and father like figure to me. What I know and have become is owed to Walt's mentoring.   He is missed by all. There will never be another like him.

So sorry to hear of Walt’s passing.  I worked for Walt for close to 6.5 years through high school and all of college at the Carriage Hills store.  Walt took great pride in the stores, had a huge energy about him, and really focused on the customer.  I learned so much about attention to detail from Walt.  Nothing escaped his focus.  A really outstanding man.  My sympathies to the entire family including Julie, who I remember as the fastest bagger I had ever seen at Goff.  The apple did not fall from the tree there.  RIP Walt, you did great things on earth.

Saddened to hear of Walt's passing, I fondly remember working for him at his stores in the late 70's, early 80's.  I learnt so much from him about the grocery business, but most of all his fairness as an employer, particularly the chances he gave me to learn and work through mistakes.  I credit these experiences to have benefitted me in my career within the food industry, both in Michigan and internationally.  Thank you Walt! 
And condolences to the entire family, wish I could have attended Sunday/Monday, you were all in my thoughts.
Sincerely, Rich

Amongst MANY great memories, I'll share this one: I worked as a bagger/ carry-out employee for you at the E Lansing store.  I was the only one. I remember you coming in, putting on an apron, bagging groceries and doing carry-out along side me. You are a great man, admired by me. God bless and look forward to the day we do this again. Big love, Walt!


I had  wonderful experiences as an associate of Mr. Goff’s store in Haslett, Michigan. When I returned to college I had applied various places for employment. I was hired at a pizza parlor as kitchen help when I then received a call from Monica (Human Resources) stating that they would like for me to work for them. Knowing that being out in the open interacting with the clientele would be better for me, I turned down the kitchen position.  I started at Goff’s carrying out groceries. I had the pleasure of also working with Mr. Goff’s son and daughter on occasion. The environment working with other students (both high school and college) was found encouraging by me.  It was a place to build our work ethics and interpersonal skills. I later moved into the seafood department which I was chosen for due to my personable personality. I remember saying hello to Mr. Goff ( He preferred Walt) as he would stop by the store most mornings and various times. Definitely was a place of nostalgic memories. Several of my friends  I still keep in contact with for over 3 decades were associated from my time with Goff’s. 

I came across this in an antique store last year.  As a former employee (Carriage Hills 1991-1994), I never knew this existed and I HAD to have it!  :)  I am attaching a picture..hope it goes through!   I wont ever forget my time with the company and the countless friendships made.  My deepest condolences for such a huge loss!

Dear Ellie and family,
Our sympathy to you.  When we remember Walt, we are thankful for his hiring of high school students in his store in Haslett. He was pleasant and firm in the standards he taught these young folks; work ethics, proper dress codes, how to treat customers.  Two of our sons worked for Walt and respected him as they learned from him.  We, as parents, are thankful for him and the positive influence he had on them.
God's peace be with you.  Walt and JoAnne Holz

I enjoyed working for Walt. I worked at least a day in each store.  Haslett and Holt were my homes.  Because of him, many people were given opportunity to work and better their life.  What a gift to the Haslett community.  I pray for peace in this difficult time.  

I can’t say enough great things about Walt.  He offered me a wonderful  career opportunity after I graduated from MSU as his 2 store company was to grow and needed a human resource department .   So I got the  opportunity to build a human resource department for me to do & oversee. He was a fantastic example of a perfect boss!  He made tours of his stores.  He would walk the stores and personally address all he came in contact with by name !  When he entered the main office, he would make the rounds in the office and usually spend a bit of time discussing issues.  He. would walk into orientation process weekly and meet everyone asking them to introduce themselves, what store, and what position !  It was a company with great business with great  personal standards.  I can’t thank Walt Goff enough for his leadership  example !  He was a wonderful man and businessman.  He will be missed.  May he Rest In Peace.

Walt was an amazing man.  I met him and Eleanor while they lived in Beechwood Dr. in Haslett.  I babysat Julie and remember little Jeffrey being brought into the fold.  My Mom helped stop a fire from spreading at their house one time.  I remember running hoses across the street and spraying water on the fire until the fire dept. could arrive.  I, too, was one of hundreds of high school students who started a job at Shop-Rite.  I helped move the old Shop-Rite into the new Goff’s Plaza in Haslett.  Walt always gave me a job when I would come home from college.  I was able to experience multiple facets of the grocery business through my experience with him.  There were times I would go in and look at my schedule and it would be blocked off for a week, and I would take care of Julie and Jeff while W & E would go out of town.  They were great kids!  Walt hired great people to run his business!  I look back at the many, many people I worked with and there is a smile in my heart as I remember so many faces and experiences.  Only fond memories of this man arise when thinking of him.  God had welcomed a man with a heart of gold.  Peace to the family.

Was always glad to see you and Ellie when you both returned to Fla in the winter . You will be missed.

To the Familly
I worked in the telecom business for many years and at one point I maintained the telecom equipment for Goff Foods and Walt was always friendly, cheerful and helpful. I will remember your father and "Big Ed" his maintenance man.
Your father was a good man and I am glad we crossed paths.

What  wonderful memories I have of growing up in Haslett, and my family and I shopping at Goff's.  It was always a great grocery store, spot-on clean, with great, friendly service. And I remember Mr. Goff and his warm smile, being everywhere at once in the store!  Thanks for the memories. And warm condolences to the family.

A great community leader who supported Haslett in so many ways. He had a god sense of humor, as illustrated in this photo I took as a student at Haslett High School for an ad in the DIXIT yearbook (1971)  -David "Sparty" Brown

Mr. Goff was my first boss. He taught me how to treat people. He always treated everyone with respect and he listened. He inspired me. Whenever he came into the store-you could feel how much he cared. I worked in his store for 4 years. I started as a “bagger” and moved and tried every department. I am so thankful for Walt. Many blessings to him and his family. May his memory be a blessing…it is to me. 

Great man, did a lot for the community.  I got to know him quite well through my friendship with his son Jeff.  He also hired me for my 1st job bagging groceries at Goff's Food Stores! I still call the plastic grocery bags, Goff Bags! 

Jeff, sending you and your family my condolences on your loss. 

Chad Williams

I have known Walt since we both lived on Gier St.  Walt was always kind and treated every one he knew like he was your best friend.  A few  years ago Walt called me and asked me and my sister Jackie Mulvihill Smith to join him for lunch.  What a kind man and we all enjoyed our visit.  What a great man he was and he will be missed. Please except my condolences, I will be sad to know I won't run into him ever again. God is the lucky one, Walt is in His hands.



only met Walt a few times but always enjoyed our conversations, we both spent our lives in retail. Walt and Eleanor  were always gracious to allow me to stay with them for a few nights when i visited michigan.  will miss those visits and talking to Walt and Eleanor.

I pray peace and comfort for you Eleanor and family.  I had the pleasure of knowing you and watching Julie and Jeff growing up in their younger years.
Walt was my boss for 15 years, starting at the Shop Rite in Haslett, Goff stores, Haslett, Carriage Hills, and St. Johns.  I remember us moving the Shop Rite store to the Haslett Goff store.  Very cold, removing the big front windows to be able to move everything in and set up.  There were no greater stores than Walt's.  Many high school students got there start with Walt.  He had a caring heart for his employees and his community.             I know God welcomed him with open arms.  

Walt Goff was a very nice person and fellow grocer and we shared a lot of fun times in Michigan Food Dealers Assoc together..my sympathy goes out to his family and friends..I have lived in Haslett for several years now and wish his store was  still here!!.Not like the good old days anymore!!..His was a life well lived..rest in peace dear friend!....Peggy Keep..wife of Charles W.Keep..Keep'sJiffy Mart

On January 17,1969, Walt Goff, the owner of Haslett Shop Rite, interviewed and hired me to work as a service clerk (bag boy). His standards for customer service and cleanliness was then and through the years  was the #1 priority.  In May 1969 my dad passed away. Walt became like a “dad” to me over the next 13 years, Through his mentoring and training in ALL ASPECTS of operating a successful store I became Store Director of the first “Goff the Food Store” in Haslett.  Those skills have followed me through life. 

Walt did an awful lot of GOOD for the many lives he touched directly and indirectly. His reputation among his friends, employees, business connections and customers  were GOLDEN!   

God has a great Man.  
 
A funny tidbit:  Months before Walt would open any of the four Goff stores he went on a WW diet which included TAB (soft drink). I asked him why he did this - he said “to get in shape for the next store”  All employees knew when there were lots of Tab cans around a new store was coming!  

Thank you Walt for being the man we called  “FRIEND”  
With love to you and your family,
Terry and Lila Andrews


Walt had a way of seeing the possibilities in a person and would often go out of his way to encourage them to be the best version of themselves. What he saw in this 18 year old kid I will never know, but he made an investment in me  that took me from a service clerk to the Product Management Coordinator in the 9 years that I worked with him. The knowledge I learned from him made me successful in all my endeavors, which I will be forever grateful. 

Many years have passed since I worked at Goff Food Stores, but my time there is remembered fondly. I have been served well by the knowledge I acquired while working with everyone at Goff’s. I remember things like “Country Days”, “MSU Tailgate Giveaway”, and “Dollar Days” among just a few of the many fun events that made up my experiences.  Not only that, but I got the opportunity to work with Elanor on some special food events like the big “cheese wheels” that we cut a chunk of cheese for the customer right on the sales floor and the pizzas made to order.  

Walt, you gave so much to so many, and for this you are in the hearts and minds of us all. May God forever bless you and your family.

I worked for mr Goff at the carriage hill location for many years Just out of high school.. he was a great boss to work for ... the best I’ve ever had....he was a great man... always was in the store greeting employees and customers ... god speed !

Mr. Goff was an impressive man. He created and upheld that “Golden Service” at his stores and wherever he went. I worked at the St Johns store during my high school years and whenever he came in to visit and check on progress, everyone respected him. He made you feel like the job you were doing each day really mattered and he took the time to recognized it. He was always showing his appreciation for his employees and had a great mind for knowing what people really wanted in the community!  I miss grocery stores like his that had the family feel, high standards and fun atmosphere. I am so thankful his store was one of my very first jobs as a kid. His expectations of what it takes to treat customers well will always be instilled in me. Thank you Mr. Goff, for providing excellent leadership, kindness and a friendly hug to those around you throughout the years. You will be dearly missed. 

Walt...what can I say....biggest memory is when  we were at the Haslett store in 1985.  Resetting the store. I was in the candy isle with M&M Mars.  Hershey came in early and set candy how they wanted it before anyone else got there.  you came over and us being friends said it was too high, you patted me on the head and said she is the size of my customer.  Hershey mrg complained and you told us all to come out side and pointed at the sign  ( your last name) and saidwhos name is that?  she said Goff and you said right.  Right then I knew how powerful you were.  And your huggs everytime you saw me.  will miss you sir

I can remember shopping with my Mombat Shop Rite. Walt always was out visiting with the customers. If he saw us, he always gave us a Tootsie Roll sucker instead of a little Dum Dum sucker that they had in boxes at every check out. Goff Food Stores sponsored the Haslett High School Home Economics Student of the year award. In 1988, I won that award. At the presentation, Mrs. Goff expressed that Walt was upset that he had a prior commitment and couldn't be there to give me the award because I was one of "his kids" from the Shop Rite store. His kindness will never be forgotten. (I still have the dictionary I was given by the Goff family with the 1988 award.) My love and prayers to the family. 

I moved to Michigan in the summer of 1987 from Southern California to start a new life. I had been in the grocery business all my life and was given a choice to go work for Meijer or this 5 store independent by the name of Goff’s   I had worked for Kroger in California and thought I would try a independent for a change of pace. To this day I never regretted that decision, Walt taught me more about the retail business then I would or could have learned any where  else   Walts passion for customer service resonates with me still.  When my wife and I go out somewhere and see or receive poor service we still say “Good thing Walts not here, he would cringe and someone would learn a lesson from that “. He was my boss but more important he was my friend. Rest In Peace Walt, I will always remember you telling me “Tommy be sure and put  a Door Swinger In The Add  this week. Something to get me out of my chair and into the store” 


Tricia and I shared many unforgettable moments with Walt & Ellie ourselves but, we got the most enjoyment living vicariously through their travel buddies, our folks Wade & Laura Alderman. This foursome spent their golden years traveling to many of the most exotic places this world has to offer. It’s so rare that four people enjoy each others company enough to spend so much time cruising and touring together time after time. We will miss Walt tremendously and we thank him so much for blessing our parents with so many lasting memories. Rest In Peace, Elwood Suggins! And, as always, GO GREEN!  - Tim and Tricia

Walt Goff gave me a chance when no one else would have. He taught me everything I know about running a store and company, he provided a 401K plan that we used to open our store. I was a single mother when he made me a store director- the salary that he paid me helped me improve my life and my son's. Me, my son and husband  have our store only because he gave me a chance when women were not considered for store managers - 12 people have jobs because of Walt. I will be ever indebted to him.  He will be missed.
Shirley Decker

OBITUARY

Walter Paul Goff

6 January, 1943 – 14 September, 2021

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

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