Mr. Jack H. Goeken

Jack Goeken, Age 75, passed away 3/6/10 in Denver, Colorado. He is survived by beloved wife Eva; children Laura Benallo, David and Jack (& wife Deana); Brother Jim (& wife Shirley); 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; numerous nephews and nieces. Preceded in Death by his Father Fritz, Mother Signe, Step-Mother Blanche, Granddaughter Shantel. Visitation Tues. 5 - 7 pm, memorial service Wed. 9 am, both at Olinger Crown Hill Chapel of Peace, W. 29th Ave. & Wadsworth Blvd.

Eulogy Given by Nick Benallo (Grandson):

I never thought this day would come where I would have to say good bye to my grandfather,

This is very hard for me, and I am at a loss for words. But I am very honored to be standing here I hope when I am done reading everyone will all know how he touch so many lives.

I spent a lot of time with my grandpa, he taught me so many things, I don’t even know where to start, he taught me how to fish, how to ride a bike, how to fix basically anything you can fix, and most importantly he taught me how to be a man.

Grandpa was like a father to me, and my two sisters Stacey and Nicole. We would get to see him every single day. Not to take anything away from my own dad, but Grandpa was there for me whenever I needed anything, weather it would be to fix my bike tire… again because I would somehow always ride through the thorns. Or whether it was giving advice on life; I remember Grandpa would always tell me, and all the kids, grand kids, and even the great grand kids and im sure all of us will always remember and can hear him saying ………“save your money”

Today as I stand before his funeral I am very proud to have him as a grandfather, who I am and what you see here today in this room with all of his family and loved ones was a product of his love his hard work, and dedication. And what a great job he and grandma did raising this beautiful family. I remember the first day of work grandpa dropped me off and said you need to stay busy, if you have nothing to do pick up a broom and make yourself busy because there is always something you can do besides standing around. And I have lived by those words ever since. And I hope one day I can become half the man he was.

Grandpa was very precise and organized with everything he did, if he was working on the patio on something he would go in the garage and get the tools he needed for the job and lay them out nicely on the table and go to work and he would keep working till he was finished, even if it was late, he would clean up all of his tools and put everything back where it belonged.

I always knew if I used something that I had to put it back, where I got it! one thing was funny he always knew if I used a tool out of the garage, without telling him and I still have yet to find out how he did it, I would ask him how he knew that I used a tool and he would simply say “because I do”.

I use to love grandpas stories, he used to tell me how he would race his cars up and down the streets or getting beat up by his brother Jim, all the time. And of course grandpa loved his fishing he always had a great time with his good friends the way he would tell his stories, he could always make you laugh, grandpa could always laugh at himself too.. he was pretty clumsy at times I think every time we were fixing things together he would always get cut somehow and he didn’t even know how.. A story I will always remember when me and my sisters and im sure all of my cousins as well were little we would sit on his shoulders and mess up his hair and then comb it back again it was nice because grandpa used that old man grease so we didn’t have to use water or nothing, then when we were done would get a sip of his Coors Original.

Grandpa had a heart of gold! He always put everyone else ahead of him and cared about all of his family, friends and his tenants. He would help anyone in anyway he could.

He would even help if he didn’t know you. I remember he used to clean off my sisters car in the morning if there was snow or frost on the windows just because!

On Thanksgiving he would always make a plate of food for his tenants who didn’t have a family to spend time with, all of our family would get mad at him for not waiting till we were finished but grandpa didn’t care. He wanted to make sure the people around him had a nice dinner to eat just as we did.

I know grandpa wouldn’t want us to sit here and cry because he is gone, he is in a better place now, he has all of his toes with feeling in his feet, a good leg, and sorry grandma but I am sure he is looking for the 6’5” blonde he always wanted.

A few months ago he fell down and everyone wanted him to go to the doctors, but he didn’t want to go, grandpa hated the doctors, he always said if you were sick then it was all in your head... But that day he told me that he was tired, he lived a good life and he wanted to go, he was upset that he couldn’t do the things he had always done before... That hit me hard I had never once heard him talk like that.

I know he is happy now and he wouldn’t want us to cry for him he would just want us to remember all the good times we had. His spirit lives on and always will, times he laughed, times he gave advice or just listened, echo’s in the memories of those lives he touched. And being remembered his legacy will live on and he will always be watching down on us, making sure we are all doing okay.

Poem by unknown Author:

Weep not for me though I am gone into that gentle night.

Grieve if you will, but not for long upon my soul's sweet flight.

I am at peace, my soul's at rest

There is no need for tears.

For with your love I was so blessed.

For all those many years.

There is no pain, I suffer not,

The fear now all is gone.

Put now these things out of your thoughts,

In your memory I live on.

Remember not my fight for breath

Remember not the strife.

Please do not dwell upon my death,

But celebrate my life