On Sunday evening September 20, 2020, John R. Goering, devoted husband and father, died at the age of 91 while in the presence of his wife and eldest son.
John was born January 30, 1929 in Moundridge Kansas, to John B. and Jesse (Schrag). He was the 10th child in a family that would eventually include 16 siblings, forming an exuberant group, rooted in the Mennonite community and sharing the duties of running their own dairy farm. After graduating from high school in 1948 John proceeded to fulfill his obligation to the family by helping to run the dairy for two years. He then established his own operation until he was called into service to work as a medic in Korea until 1953. After returning home John began the work of rebuilding the dairy, but the challenges of the profession and his desire to woo the one and only love of his life eventually led him to pursue a career as an airline agent, which he continued for 38 years.
John and Orletta (Nikkel) were married on June 14, 1957, after his girlfriend accepted his proposal, making him “the happiest man alive”. They had been married 63 years at the time of his death.
John will be remembered as a man who had a strong faith in God, and who was dedicated to his family. He enjoyed working with people and took his work seriously. John's airline career took him and Orletta from Kansas to Denver for 4 years, where daughter Valerie and son John Kevin were born, to Dallas, Texas for 17 years where Keith was born. When they moved to Oregon in 1979, John and Orletta joined Gresham United Methodist church. John enjoyed his service to the church as a deacon and elder and singing in the church choir with Orletta. John also shared his time as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. He was a lover of music, bird watching, tending to his garden and home, travel, and visiting with his extended family.
He is survived by his wife Orletta, children: Valerie (Charlie), John Kevin (Orathai), and Keith; grandchildren Ben and Jacob, Natalie, and Tate and Eva and their mother Heidi Johnson; sister Joan (Tony) and brother Harry (Rosie), many sister-in-laws, nephews, nieces and cousins.
John was preceded in death by his parents: John and Jessie; stepmother Anna; brothers: Al, Bill, Dan, Herb, Art, Ralph, Jim, Larry, Walt, and Leonard; sisters: Elva, Frieda, and Martha.
The family appreciates your messages of love and support, and regrets that we cannot include everyone in the services due to the pandemic and related restrictions. If you would like to attend the Celebration of Life Service but have not yet notified the family, please email [email protected] so that we can plan accordingly and notify you if it has filled.
You can also view the service through Facebook by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/BatemanCarrollFuneral/
The day and time of the service is Monday, October 5th at 1:00 pm Pacific time.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18