Oswald William Goettler

   VOLNEY — Oswald “Ozzie” Willam Goeller, 96, passed away Jan. 3, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon, after a brief stay.

   A funeral service was held Jan. 6 at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana with Vicar Jeremy Wolfe and Pastor Judy Heinrich as the officiants. Inurnment will be held at Smithfield Cemetery, Volney at later date.

   Oswald William Goettler was born Nov. 29, 1927 at Andrew to Henry and Magdalena Goettler. They were very poor, but very religious parents, for this he was thankful for.  He became a Christian at a very young age and being poor, it taught him to get along with only the things he needed.

   He attended Andrew High School for 12 years.  He walked two miles to and from school each day, equaling 720 miles a year times 12, equaling 8,640 miles to get an education. 

   Ozzie graduated from High School in 1945.  He worked for four years, then decided to become a school teacher and enrolled at Wartburg College in 1949.  He graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He furthered his education at University of Wisconsin - Platteville and University of Northern Iowa.  Two things he received from college were a teaching certificate, which he made his life’s work, and a sweet girl named Carol Lee Harms, whom he married Sept. 18, 1953 at Allison.  To this union six children were born:  Gwen, Mary, Linda, Julie, Karen, and Eric.

   In the Fall of 1953, they moved to Monona, which has been their home all these years.  Ozzie taught school for 35 years.  Ozzie felt he was a pretty good teacher because many students that took his classes felt he was their favorite teacher.  He also ran the time clock at basketball games for many years. 

   In 1974, they moved to their beloved farm near Volney, where he continued to teach and farm.  He farmed for 20 years after retiring from teaching. 

   He was active at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Monona and St. John’s Lutheran Church, Luana.  He served on the Rural Fire Board and as a Franklin Township Trustee.  While he was on the Monona Boy Scouts Board, he helped in getting a meeting building for them in Monona. He belonged to the Order of the Arrow.  He was Chairman of the Monona Sportsman Club.  He taught Sunday School and was active in the Church men’s group.  He was chairman of the Church Council at St. Paul Lutheran, Monona, and St. John Lutheran, Luana. 

   Ozzie loved shooting his double barrel guns and for years kept the trap shooting club - the Monona Sportsman Club active.  He enjoyed duck hunting with his black labs.  He built two houses and built many camping vehicles for their family trips out West.

   “I brought nothing with me when I came into this world, and I take nothing with me.  But I leave a wife, six children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren to remember me, so I feel my life was a success.”

   Ozzie is survived by his wife, Carol of 70 years; children, Gwen (Bill), Mary (Blake), Linda, Julie, and Eric (Rita); grandchildren, John, Rose, Sam, Denise, Derek, Lance, Andrew, and Sarah; great-grandchildren, Michael, Anna, Brynn, Noelle, Isla, Gunner, Lorelei, and Harper. 

   Ozzie was predeceased by his parents; his wife’s parents; his siblings; his daughter, Karen; grandson,Trace; and son-in-law, Dennis. 

   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity.

   Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is assisting the family with services.