Virginia Goedeken

Virginia Byrum Goedeken of Franklin, Nebraska, was born on September 19, 1915, at Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, to Albert Hoyt and Bessie Almeda (Sheets) Byrum. She was the first of four children born to this marriage. Virginia passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at Franklin County Memorial Hospital, Franklin, Nebraska at the age of 99 years, 4 months, and 2 days.

When Virginia was a young child, she lived in Santa Barbara, California. At the age of five years, she entered kindergarten in the Orleans Public School, at Orleans, Nebraska. When Virginia was eight years old, she was enrolled in the Bloomington Public School at Bloomington, Nebraska. She graduated from high school there with the class of 1933.

On April 29, 1934, Virginia married Edwin Goedeken in the home of her mother at Bloomington, Nebraska. Edwin and Virginia began their married life on a farm overlooking the Turkey Creek Valley north of Naponee. This was their home for over fifty years, until they moved to Franklin, Nebraska, in the fall of 1986. Two sons were born to this union, Gary and John.

Virginia was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, north of Republican City. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and directed the Christmas program at St. Paul for many years. Virginia was active in W.E.L.C.A. After moving to Franklin, she was a member of the Dorcas Circle of Grace Lutheran L.W.M. L. She managed the Grace Lutheran Book Store for many years.

Virginia was a member of Chapter P, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Bloomington; charter member of the Farmerette Extension Club of the Turkey Creek area; charter member of the Junior Nebraska Federation of Woman's Club of Naponee; charter member of Paul Hartt Unit 145 American Legion Auxiliary of Bloomington; and Franklin Federated Woman's Club. After graduating from the Central Nebraska Technical School of Practical Nursing at Kearney, Virginia was employed at the Franklin Clinic. She was a Red Cross Volunteer L.P.N. and helped when the Red Cross Bloodmobile came to Franklin.

She was preceded in death by her father - Albert Hoyt Byrum, in 1929; her mother - Bessie Byrum, in 1991, her husband - Edwin Goedeken, in 1994; her two brothers - Jeptha Byrum, in 1983 and William Byrum, in 1999; sister-in-law - Alberta Slaby, in 2012; and her sister - Betty Menagh in 2014.

Virginia is survived by her sons - Gary Goedeken of rural Naponee, John and wife, Karen Goedeken of Palo, Iowa; grandson - Richard and wife, Elena Goedeken of Santa Clarita, California; granddaughters - Katherine Goedeken of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Susan Goedeken and husband, Mohammad Ataie, of St. Louis, Missouri; four great-grandchildren - Sonia, Nolan, Evan, and Kai; brother-in-law - Merlin Menagh of Norton, Kansas; sister-in-law - Violet Byrum of Melbourne, Florida; nephews; nieces; grand-nephews; grand-nieces; and a host of friends.

Celebration of life service for Virginia Goedeken will be (was) Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Republican City, Nebraska, with Pastors Paul Ferrarone and Chad Boggs officiating. Mrs. Debra James will be (was) pianist, and Mrs. Valerie Blake will be (was) the soloist. The hymns will be (were) "Beautiful Savior" and "How Great Thou Art." Congregational hymns will be (were) "Love Divine All Love Excelling" and "Blest Be The Tie That Binds." Casket bearers will be (were): Richard Goedeken, Kiel Farenbruch, Corey Menagh, James Fouts, Jerry Fouts, and Terry Harms. Honorary casket bearers will be (were): Katherine Goedeken, Susan Goedeken, Elena Goedeken, Christine Farenbruch, and Sharon Drassen. Interment will follow the service at the St. Paul's Lutheran Churchyard Cemetery, Republican City, Nebraska. The family suggests memorials in memory of Virginia Goedeken to: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Republican City, Nebraska, or Grace Lutheran Church, Franklin, Nebraska. Visitation for Virginia will be (was) Monday, January 26, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Online condolences may be left at www.hutchinsfh.com. Hutchins Funeral Home, 1401 M Street, Franklin, Nebraska, was in charge of arrangements.