Dorothea E. Goering
(August 29, 1928 – December 7, 2010)
Dorothea E. Goering, 82, died on her home on Tuesday (Dec. 7, 2010).
Dorothea was born on August 29, 1928 to C.P. and Helen (Toevs) Regier
of Peabody. The daughter of dairy farmers, Dorothea was active in 4H
from age 9, named the Kansas Holstein Club Girl for 1945 and worked as
a milk tester for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association of Marion
County during World War II. Upon confession of faith, she became a
member of Emmaus Mennonite Church. She attended Hesston Academy and
graduated from Berean Academy in 1950.
Dorothea married Herbert D. Goering in 1950. They farmed near Elbing
until Herb joined the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1956. Herb’s job
assignments took them to Newton, Wichita, Osawatomie and Independence,
MO as the family grew to include five children. Dorothea looked at
every move as an adventure. The first priority at each location was to
find a church and the second was to find the library.
Dorothea worked for the General Service Administration for 15 years.
She and Herb both retired in 1986 and returned to the Newton area.
During retirement Dorothea and Herb enjoyed traveling to visit their
children, relatives, and friends and to see the beauty of the United
States.
After Herb’s death in 2004, Dorothea moved to Lakeside Villa, Hesston.
There she regularly swam at 5:30 a.m., quilted, took woodworking
classes, walked at Dyck Arboretum, enjoyed flower gardening, knitting,
crocheting, Scrabble and reading. She was active in the Lakeside Villa
community, volunteered at the Et Cetera Shop and Kauffman Museum, and
served on numerous committees at church. She knitted baby caps for the
Newton Medical Center.
Dorothea enjoyed singing in church choirs and with community groups. A
highlight was singing Handel’s Messiah in Independence, MO.
Dorothea fought pancreatic cancer for the last 18 months of her life.
At the end, she was ready for this life to end but she did not stop
living. She was knitting baby caps, playing online scrabble with her
sisters-in-law, borrowing library books, and connecting with friends
until the last days of her life.
Dorothea is survived by her daughters, Constance of Albuquerque, NM
and Roberta and husband Jerry Anderson of Chicago, IL, sons, David and
wife Cathy Anderson of Newton, Charles and wife Anne Simpkins of
Burlington, NC, and Loren and wife Melissa Cahn of Lords Valley, PA;
brother Lawrence and wife Doris of Palm City, FL; brothers- and
sisters-in-law Walter Regier of Moundridge, Martha Sundgren of North
Newton, Rosella Goering Brandt and Ray Brandt of North Newton, John
and Orletta Goering of Portland, OR, Leonard and Delores Goering of
North Newton, Jim and Ida Goering of Dayton, VA, JoAnn and Tony Epp of
Goessel, Harry and Rosie Goering of Menifee, CA, and Hildred Goering
of Ayden, NC. Dorothea has 8 grandchildren: Davis, Kate, Elisabeth,
Dominic, Emma, Abraham, August, and Lisa
She is preceded in death by her husband, Herb Goering, parents C.P.
and Helen (Toevs) Regier, step-mother Susie Regier, sister Darlene
Regier, brothers- and sisters-in-law Elva and Dan J. Goering, Walter
and Della Goering, Frieda Regier, Alvin Goering, Willard and Alice
Goering, Dan H. and Grace Goering, Archer Sundgren, Ralph Goering, Art
Goering, Gene Goering, and Larry Goering.
A memorial has been established with the Caring Fund of First
Mennonite Church and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; contributions may
be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton,
Ks. 67114.