John F. Goodwin, age 78, of Garretson, SD passed away November 11, 2007. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 P.M. on November 15th at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, November 17th at Nichols Cemetery in Bradford with Pastor Howard Skulstad officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Cambridge American Legion. Following the service everyone is invited to Bradford Township Hall for coffee and cake.
John E. Goodwin was born July 8, 1929 in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up in Bradford, MN on his grandparent’s farm and then lived in the cities. After attending the Bradford School through the eighth grade, he joined the United States Army and served from 1946 to 1949 and served in World War II.
In 1959 he met and married Josephine Peterson. They eventually moved back near the Bradford area where they raised four children. He worked for Burlington Northern Railroad for many years, then Target for 10 years after which time he returned to the railroad until his retirement. Since John was very active and unable to just “relax”, he then worked part-time delivering flowers and finally fully retired in just the past few years.
John followed his work with the railroad to Garretson, SD, and made his home there. It was here that he met and married Georgia Landreth in 1996 and they moved to Sioux Falls in 2002.
John enjoyed putsing around the yard, riding with his “moped” friends around Garretson, traveling and helping others. Together with Georgia they traveled to all but two states in the United States. He was very involved with the FFA and led the project of building the iron gates at Split Rock Park and Jesse James Park.
John E. Goodwin passed away unexpectedly on November 11, 2007 at age 78. John was preceded in death by his grandparents, Fred and Lillian Goodwin, mother, Geneva Hale, brother, Ronald Hale and step son, Russ Landreth.
He is survived by his wife Georgia Goodwin of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Karen Hale of Coon Rapids; son, John (Brenda) Goodwin Jr. of Kansas City, MO; three daughters, Janice (Buck) Lauseng of Cambridge, Jennifer Mullin of Big Lake, and Joyce (Stan) Hanson of Cambridge; two step children, David (Debbie) Landreth of Sioux Falls and Barb (Tom) Langpap of Sioux Falls; 9 grandchildren, Jeremy (Amber), Joshua (Marie), Amanda (Paul), Brandon (Teresa), Andrew, David, Stephen, Amber and Katie Jo; 2 great-grandchildren, Ayden and Mary, and on one the way; step-grandchildren, John, Greta, Carmen (Sam), Shannon (Erik) and 4 step great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Averie, Adin, and Ethan; and by many friends.