Norman Goeken

Norman “Bud” Goeken, 95, of Colby, died Friday, November 7, 2014 at Citizens Medical Center. He was born August 21, 1919, the eighth child of John and Nora (McCormick) Goeken, on a farm in Norton County, Kansas. He graduated from Edmond High School in 1938. He attended the School of Milling at Kansas State College for 2 years before enlisting in the Army. In August of 1942 he was sent to Radio Mechanic Signal Corps Schools. In February of 1944 Bud headed for the war in Europe where he served with General Eisenhower’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces in England, France and Germany as a Tech 4. He returned to the US in December of 1945 and was honorably discharged Christmas Day.

Bud returned to Kansas State College School of Engineering where he met Faye L. Best and they were married in Lenora, Kansas on August 17, 1947. He began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a lineman in Norton and then was transferred to Colby in 1948. During a short layoff from the company he ran a service station in Atwood for a year before returning to Colby to work again for the telephone company. Bud retired from the SW Bell Telephone toll testboard after 33 years on February 28, 1982.

In retirement Bud began a new career of farming. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, hiking, gardening and traveling. He especially enjoyed spending sixteen winters in southern Texas. Bud was a member of the Colby United Methodist Church, the VFW, American Legion and a charter member of the Colby Kiwanis. He served on the Thomas County Historical Society Board for 6 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Jean Ann; five brothers, Abe, Bill, Martin, Max and Jim; four sisters, Marguerite Brown, Esther Hempler, Nora Goeken and Iva Lee Suydam.

He is survived by his wife Faye of Colby, daughter Norma (Neil) Johnson of LaPlata, Maryland, grandson Nickolas (Lynne) Johnson of Centreville, Virginia, four great-grandchildren, Kendall, Taylor, Ian and Ellie Johnson, sister-in-law Pauline Goeken of Lenora, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews. He leaves a devoted wife of 67 years.

Visitation will be 4-6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Funeral services will be held at the Colby United Methodist Church on November 12, 2014 at 2 pm with burial following at Beulah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the church, Thomas County Historical Society or Colby Kiwanis. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com.