Obituary of James T. Goetz

James T. "Jim" Goetz, age 86 of Yankton, passed away Friday, February 22, 2013 at the Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, with Military Graveside Rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 Honor Guard and the SDARNG Honor Guard. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. The Knights of Columbus 4th Degree will stand as honor guard. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Ryan and Austin Goetz, Christopher and Katrina Conroy, Kassandra, Tyler and Gabrielle Beckmann. James was born to Henry and Alice (McGinty) Goetz on August 12, 1926 in Yankton, SD. He was raised in Hartington, NE and graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1944. He graduated from Creighton Law School in 1948 and was a practicing attorney in South Dakota and Nebraska for 60 plus years. He served as the city attorney of Yankton for 49 years retiring from that position in 2009. He served his country as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On April 14, 1952, James was united in marriage to Margaret Dickens in Sioux City, IA and on June 15, 1969 she passed away. He remarried on September 29, 1975 to Sally Quinnell in Omaha, NE. Jim looked forward to the annual pheasant hunting trips with his family and grandchildren. He enjoyed viewing his farmland and crops, loved animals, horseback riding, flowers and gardening. He was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Yankton Rotary Club, VFW and was a loyal member of Sacred Heart Church. He is survived by his wife, Sally Goetz of Yankton, SD; son, James T. (Lori) Goetz, Jr. of Centennial, CO; daughters: Nancy (John) Corcoran of Sheldon, IA, Mary Sowards of Omaha, NE, Peggy (William) Conroy of Chapin, SC, and Deborah (Dan) Beckmann of Omaha, NE; son, Bruce Goetz of Omaha, NE, and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, infant twins, son, Robert, his parents, Alice and Henry, and one brother, Max. Memorials can be directed to the Yankton Rotary Club, Attention: Matt Hanson, 1213 West 9th Street, Yankton, SD 57078-1892 or the Sacred Heart Church, One Spirit In Christ Campaign, Attn: Development Office, 509 Capital Street, Yankton, SD 57078.