Lawrence Dale Goettsche

Sadly, on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, our father Lawrence Dale Goettsche took is last breath. Dad grew up as a country boy, living on farms in Nebraska, and Idaho before moving to the Big City, Compton, California, and later returned to the farming in Idaho. He longed to see the world, so at 17, he joined the United States Navy and served his country for twenty-four years. Dad was the oldest of three sons, with brothers, John and Jim. His mother remarried, John Kapitanich after their father’s death, and gained another brother, Edward. He married Karlene May Koch on July 14, 1957, and they were married nearly sixty years before her passing. He was lost without her. As a devoted father of four children, Diane, Dale, David, and Don, we were known as the four-D’s. His military service allowed us to travel the country, living in California, Hawaii, Maine, and Tennessee.  Retiring from the military, in 1978, we moved to Salt Lake City to be closer to family on the West Coast. Dad was a social butterfly, and he could always find someone to visit, often telling stories of how proud he was of his children. Education was important to Larry, so in 1972 he graduated from New Hampshire College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. After his retirement, from the Navy, he went to work for Leeds and Northrup. At this time Dad, was active in the Instrument Society of America (ISA). He spoke at National Conventions, and organized Trade Shows on the subject of Automation. During this time, he wrote two college text books. “Practical Guides for Measurement and Control”, and “Maintenance of Instruments and Systems”, both which are still used today. Continuing his writing skills, he was editor of “Getting a Job”, Editor of “The Maintainers”, an ISA Newsletter. In 1984, He went to work for Hercules Aerospace as a Maintenance Engineer where he and his team installed a Distributed Control System to mix propellants for rocket motors. He thought it was time to retire, but Kennecott Copper recruited him in 1992 to start up the Allen Bradley Logic Control System. Upon retiring again, Karlene and Lawrence spent the next several years touring the United States in their motorhome. In the winter, they headed South, and in the summers, Salt Lake City. While in Nevada, Dad became Chairman of the Board at Overton Senior Center. He also was a member of the American Legion Post holding many offices, including Commander of the Post for two years. He was parade chairman for the Veterans Day Parade, and also a member of the Post Honor Guard. Dad was always a devoted Lutheran, and one of his proudest accomplishments, was organizing a new Lutheran Church in Mesquite, Nevada. Dad also enjoyed it sports, being one of the first Utah Jazz Season tickets holders, and also enjoyed “The Raiders” and University of Utah Athletics. It’s difficult to imagine him not being around, and We’re not sure how we will cope. But knowing that Mom and Dale were there to greet him adds some comfort. Dad lived a long and happy life and only succumbed to ill health at the very end. Thank you, Dad, for making the world a better place and along with Mom making your children know they were loved. We love you Dad, and will miss you more than we can say.
He is proceeded in death by his wife, Karlene and son, Dale.
He is survived by his children, Diane Templin (Mike), David (Sheri), Don, (Marie) and grandchildren, Whitney, Katie, Brandy (Mykle), Jamie, Chelsea, Chase (Katy), Daryl, Tyler (Tayja), Travis, Megan, and great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jackson, Peirce, Bentley, Amelia.
As a result of the Corona Virus, He will be buried on Friday, April 17, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bluffdale, Utah in a private ceremony. The graveside will be broadcast on Zoom, and please contact a family member for passwords. There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.