Willard "Bill" Emil Goetz Jr.

Bill grew up in Edina, MN and graduated from Edina High School in 1957. He enlisted in the Army in December of 1958. Bill trained as a radio technician during a time before the technology that we know today. A year later, Bill shipped out to Germany to service all of the Army radios around Frankfurt. His tour in Germany overlapped with the closing of the Berlin Wall. He told his family his stories of his times walking around Germany with his Army buddies.

When Bill returned from serving his country, he married the love of his life, Patricia. After the Army, he was a postal clerk for Minneapolis for 35 years. Bill and Pat took many road trips with their kids, highlights include; Florida, Yellowstone National Park, and Canada. When the kids got older, Bill and Pat took their motorcycle all around the country between the east and west coast. Many of their road trips had stops to visit their many family members in multiple states. Bill loved to travel and had a sensible sense of adventure. One of Bill’s many personal achievements was obtaining his personal pilot license.

He was preceded in death by parents, Willard and Bernice Goetz.

Bill is deeply missed by his loving wife of 63 years, Patricia; daughter, Virginia "Ginger" (Mark) Peasha; son, Andrew (Delores) Goetz; granddaughters, Ashley Peasha and Alexandra Goetz; and many other family members and friends.

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will occur on June 6th, 2026 at St Timothy's Lutheran Church at 825 51st Ave NE, Columbia Heights. Visitation will be at 11:00 am with service at 12:00 pm.

His final resting place will be Morningside Memorial Gardens in Coon Rapids, MN.