Gary L. Goertzen of Allen, Texas passed away too soon on December 23, 2019 at the age of 76. He was born on September 24, 1943 to Abe and Edna Ann (Kusserow) Goertzen Lander in St. James, Minnesota. Gary grew up in Mt. Lake, Minnesota, where he attended and graduated from Mt. Lake High School in 1961. He proudly served his country as an Intelligence Operations Specialist in the United States Air Force. During his service, Gary was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. He was honorably discharged in November of 1966.
Gary moved his family to the Dallas, Texas area late in 1966 where he started working for Rockwell International while also attending drafting school. Following his career at Rockwell, Gary’s passion for motorcycles led him to own and operate his own motorcycle shop in Richardson, Texas for a number of years. Gary later returned to the manufacturing sector, holding technical positions at Luminator Technology Group in Plano, Texas; Weathermatic in Garland, Texas; and Flextronics in Plano, Texas.
Gary enjoyed the outdoors, spending his time racing motocross bikes, playing softball, hunting, and fishing. His dogs, Saga and Abby, were a big part of his life and he was also known to enjoy a good craft beer or two from time to time. He was extraordinarily handy, having the ability to fix anything that might be broken. He was also an avid craftsman, spending countless hours in his beloved shed designing and working on all sorts of projects. Most of all, Gary loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He taught them his love of the outdoors, worked with them on projects in his shed and how to have fun – whenever they were together, it was always hard to tell who was having more fun, Gramps or the kids!
Gary will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Sandee Goertzen of Allen, Texas; and his favorite daughter, Gina LeGare and her husband, Jeff of Lucas, Texas; and his three grandchildren, Emma, Ethan and Jack LeGare all of Lucas, Texas. He will be remembered fondly by his brothers, Roger Goertzen and wife, Jan of Mt. Lake, Minnesota and Terry Goertzen and wife, Cindy of Hastings, Minnesota; his sister, Karmen Gohr of Harlingen, Texas; and many other loving family members and friends.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Abe and Edna Goertzen.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 6, 2020 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. The family will receive friends for fellowship and dinner following the service at the home of Gina and Jeff LeGare in Lucas, Texas.