Eugene F. Goetz

Eugene Francis Goetz, a lifelong resident of Danbury, was born May 4, 1919, in the home of his parents Jerome and Phoebe (Wildman) Goetz. They lived on Morris Street in Danbury. In addition to his parents, Gene’s family included three younger brothers, Leon, Jerome, Jr., and Richard, all of whom predeceased him.

Gene has participated, throughout his life, in a number of religious and civic organizations in the Danbury area. His early years were spent in the Roman Catholic Church until about the age of 12 when his nuclear family was received into the Episcopal Church. Gene remained a member of St. James Episcopal Church and over the years actively participated as Treasurer, Vestry member, chairman of the Board of Ushers and finance committee member.

Civic organizations and groups that support the Danbury area had been a large part of Gene’s adult life. Over the years he had been involved in Scouting, as Committee Chairman for Boy Scouts Troop 24, sponsored by St. James, where he was also fundraising chairman and a member of the Order of the Arrow. Gene was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an altruistic fraternal organization, where he was the local chapter’s Chaplin. He also volunteered with the local Danbury Chapter of the American Red Cross as a driver for residents requiring outpatient services. As a young adult, both Gene and his wife, Marion, participated in Danbury politics and were active in supporting the Republican Party, specifically Danbury’s 3rd Ward. For many years, Gene was an active member of the Germantown Volunteer Fire Department. At the conclusion of his active service, he was privileged to be given the lifetime designation of Honorary member. Gene was also pleased to be a member of the VFW Post 149 in Danbury.

In 2022 Gene was thrilled to fly to Washington, DC as a participant in the Honor Flight Program, recognizing our nation’s military service members. At that time, he was the oldest participant on the flight at 103 years old.

A strong work ethic was the cornerstone of Gene’s character. Gene’s work career spanned 46 years all within the public utility industry in the Danbury area, where he worked for Connecticut Light & Power and its predecessor companies. This career was only interrupted during WWII when he served as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army stationed in England and France and participated in the Normandy Invasion.

From Gene’s early years, he has been interested in baseball, starting out as a shortstop for the Osborne Street Sluggers during the depression. Gene had continued his interest in the sport and rarely missed a St. Louis Cardinals game on TV. Within the past few years, Gene made two trips to Busch Stadium in St. Louis to watch his team “up close and personal”.

The most important part of Gene’s life was his family, from which he derived a great deal of joy. Gene was fortunate to share 43 years of marriage with his wife, Marion, before her death in 1989.

While Gene spent much time with his children, Judy Lee and Jerry and his wife, Emma, he particularly enjoyed sharing in the lives and accomplishments of his grandchildren and their families. Gene has four grandchildren: Robin Lee Lamontagne and her husband, Dan; Susan Lee Ciriello and her husband, Mike; Jason Goetz and his wife, Darlene; and Timothy Goetz and his wife, Neha. Gene also took great pride in the growth and development of his six great-grandchildren: Nicholas and Joseph Lamontagne; Brody and Abigail Ciriello; and Maxom and Wesley Goetz.

Gene’s family would like to recognize the caring and compassionate service provided by Barbara Hensel and Gloria Takor of Always Best Care and the entire medical care and support team of Regional Hospice of Western CT.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT. Burial with full military honors will follow in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury, CT.

Friends will be received from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday, July 7, 2025 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.

Contributions in Gene's memory may be made to Honor Flights Connecticut, c/o Sparks, 27 Twin Oak Trail, Beacon Falls, CT 06403 or to VFW, 5 Bryon St., Danbury, CT 06810 or to Southbury Ambulance Assoc., 68 Georges Hill Rd., Southbury, CT 06488.