Lise Elie Goens

Lise Elie Pahnke Goens, age 75, of Mentor, Ohio, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026.
Lise was born on December 7, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois, to Elie Pahnke and Robert Pahnke, both of whom preceded her in death. She was raised in Des Plaines, Illinois, and graduated from Maine West High School in 1969, where she was very active in school functions and activities, always accompanied by her three lifelong friends: Donna DeFranco, Carol Beam, and Nancy Lilja.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Lise enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, completing training at Parris Island before moving on to her next duty station at Camp Lejeune. There, she met her former husband, John Goens III, also a serving Marine. They later married and had three children. During their service, they were stationed at Camp Pendleton, California; Quantico, Virginia; Great Lakes Naval Base, Illinois; and Twentynine Palms, California—where Lise began her lifelong love affair with Joshua Tree National Park.
While in Twentynine Palms, Lise began working as an ESL teacher and volunteered during the summers assisting with Special Education summer camps. It was there that she discovered her true passion: working with children with special needs. In 1988, Lise moved to Ohio and began a career with the Positive Education Program (PEP), where she worked with children experiencing behavioral challenges. Over a remarkable 30-year career, she devoted her life to helping young people thrive, inspiring countless students to reach their potential. Even after retiring, she continued working in the PEP library, remaining a source of encouragement and inspiration to her students.
Although Lise was proud of her professional accomplishments, her most cherished roles were always those of wife, mother, and grandmother.
In her free time, Lise was an avid gardener and deeply enjoyed spending time with her family. While she was not an enthusiastic traveler, she did make a memorable trip to Australia, where she delighted in the wildlife—especially emus—and enthusiastically embraced the local Italian bakeries, famously remarking that she never met a piece of bread in Sydney she didn’t like.
Lise will be remembered for her warm sense of humor and the love and support she gave so freely to others. She touched the lives of her many students and the family she loved so dearly.
Lise is survived by her three children: John Goens IV (Kerry), Elisa Houser (William), and Anneliese Goens; and her six beloved grandchildren—Jordan, Elie, Elise, Robert, Grayson, and Henry—whom she loved beyond measure. She is also survived by her sister, Elsa Pahnke (Michael Barry), of Sydney, Australia.
Private cremation and interment are planned. In lieu of flowers, donations to Fieldstone Farm therapeutic riding center in her name would be greatly appreciated. Lise volunteered there for several years.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Immigrant Son Brewery, 18120 Sloane Ave., Lakewood, Ohio 4410