Jacqueline A. "Jackie" Goken

Jacqueline A. "Jackie" Goken, 69, of Shabbona, Ill., passed away Monday, March 26, 2007, at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.
Born July 24, 1937, in DeKalb, she was the daughter of Arthur O. "Bud" and Esther (Cofield) Benson.
Jackie was a 1958 graduate of Rockford Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and married Eilert Goken Jr. on Oct. 18, 1958, at St. James Catholic Church in Lee. Together, they had two children, Teri and Rick, and lived in the Shabbona area most of their lives.
Jackie worked as a registered nurse for many years. In 1971, the Shabbona Nursing Home opened and she became its first director of nurses. In 1978, she assumed the position of administrator. She operated the facility, which was later renamed Shabbona Healthcare Center, as if it were her own - and as if every resident was a member of her family. She retired from the nursing home in 2000 after 29 years of service.
Jackie's two passions in life were her family and her garden; she loved to be surrounded by both. Jackie and Eilert's home was always the gathering place for all family functions. She absolutely loved her flowers. In the last few years, she was unable to work in her garden, but knowing how much her flowers meant to her, her daughter-in-law, Emily, and her granddaughters, Sarah and Mary, lovingly planted and cared for her flower garden.
Jackie loved when the sun shined, and her grandchildren and great-grandson were truly the "sunshine" in her life.
Eilert was always Jackie's rock, especially during the last year of her life. Daughter Teri was a special blessing to the family during the last days as she cared for Jackie.
Jackie's family would like to express its deep gratitude to Dr. Dodia and the loving staff at the Aurora Dialysis Center. The caring, loving way they treated her will never be forgotten.
She is survived by her husband, Eilert, of Shabbona; son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Emily Goken of Shabbona; daughter and son-in-law, Teri and Dan Reardon of Conyers, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Tyson, Sarah, Mary, Grant, Shannon and Lance; a great-grandson, Collin; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Joan Benson of Washington, Ill.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at Shabbona United Church of Christ, with Pastor James Allen officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Shabbona. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 30, at the church.
A memorial is being established.
Arrangements are by Jacobson Funeral Home, 303 N. Illini, P.O. Box 242, Shabbona, IL 60550.
For information, call (815) 824-2618.