Ellen H. Goehner

ELLEN DOROTHY (HOYER) GOEHNER, 93, died peacefully at home, February 22, 2016 in the presence of family members. Ellen was born on September 1, 1923, in Orlando, Oklahoma, the daughter of the Rev. George and Dorothea Hoyer and had two older siblings; Norbert and Edna, both deceased.

Ellen attended Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, Nebraska where she received her Teaching Certificate and was a featured soloist in the college choir. She returned to Topeka, Kansas, to teach in her home town and later transferred to St. Paul Lutheran School in Leavenworth, Kansas where she met Edward. They married and returned to the Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis where Ed finished his final year of studies and Ellen worked for a number of prominent professors. After graduation, they accepted a call to minister in Harlowton, Montana. Their ministry continued on to other cities in Montana, then Liberty, Missouri; Wausau, Wisconsin; North Tonawanda, New York; Ft. Dodge and Des Moines, Iowa; and Hermitage and Nashville, TN. They viewed their life as a team ministry and were dedicated to sharing the love of Christ in every parish and community they served. Ellen was a creative woman, a gifted singer, a seamstress and loved to write short stories. She directed many children’s choirs, taught Sunday School, was Ed’s personal secretary, and returned to classroom teaching for a time after her children were grown. In addition to being very active in many parish groups, she loved the mission work of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). Ellen was a woman of great faith and grace. She used Jesus’ life as her example; feeding strangers who came to the parsonage and sharing God’s love wherever she saw a need. Ellen is survived by her husband, Ed; sons, Thomas and Joel; and daughter, Sarah. She has six grandchildren; Ashley (Ryan); Ethan (Sarah); Kaitlin (Josh); Joshua, Naomi and Abigail; two great-grandchildren; Vivien and Ellen; cousins, nieces, nephews and many beloved friends. Ellen was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.

Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 4 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5110 Franklin Pike, Nashville. Visitation begins at three thirty in the afternoon, the service will be held at four o’clock, followed by a short committal service at the church’s Columbarium; and a reception in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.