Gary Daniel Goedken

Gary Goedken loved music. Barbershop, folk, bluegrass, musicals and karaoke. And when that music particularly hit him, he loved to dance with his wife, Candy, often in the middle of the kitchen. He enjoyed ice cream, the mountains, Iowa Hawkeyes, and motorcycles. He fiercely loved his three children, seven grandchildren and one great grandson.

Gary was born in Dyersville, IA on June 5, 1941. He set off on the adventure of his life in the United States Navy in 1959 where he crossed the Equator and eventually became a Golden Shellback. With a gold front tooth and a squirrel hat, he approached Candace Olson at National Lock and Key in 1964 and they were married within 6 months in Rockford, IL. He moved to Freeport, Il in 1972 and worked at Newell until 1984. In 1987 Gary opened Uniq Coins in Green Bay, WI, where he could often be found with a loupe examining jewelry and coins after starting his days with coffee and breakfast at local coffee shops. After much complaining by his wife and children, he finally closed the store and retired in 2010.

He is survived by Candy, his wife of 59 years, his children Jenny Goedken of Atlanta, GA (Alex Isakov), Jack Goedken of Green Bay, WI, Peggy Goedken of Marietta, GA (Cain Wickham), grandchildren Kyra and Connor Goedken of Green Bay, WI, Elise, Audrey, and Eva Isakov of Atlanta, GA, and Jack and Tessa Wickham of Marietta, GA, and his great-grandson Parker Goedken, of Green Bay WI.

He spent his last four years in Atlanta beside his beloved wife. This gave his loving Atlanta family a chance to visit him often and enjoy his continued sense of humor. Gary died January 22, 2025 (perhaps to escape the second term of the current administration) at Somerby Lilac Trace Memory Care in Sandy Springs, GA. The family is indebted to the Somerby staff for the loving care they provided to him in his final months.

In his last documents he wrote “I love all of you and am very proud of each person, especially my wife Candy. I hope I was a decent person as a husband, father or grandfather.” He was much more than decent, and, in many ways, he was our guiding light.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Carter Center.