Richard Walter Goelz

Richard Walter Goelz (April 16, 1947 - May 28, 2025)

Richard Walter Goelz, 78, of Kennesaw Georgia, died peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones on May 28, 2025.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947 to Wanda and Roswell Goelz. After spending his early years in Chicago, he and his family moved to Des Plaines, Illinois. Richard attended Maine West High School before studying accounting at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois. During his last semester at Elmhurst, Richard and Susan met and were married about a year later in October 1970. He had just started his career with the Internal Revenue Service when he was drafted during the Vietnam War into the United States Army where he served at the Presidio in San Francisco.

Richard had a robust career with the IRS and Price Waterhouse Coopers with positions moving him and his family from Chicago, to Atlanta, Georgia, to Coral Springs, Florida, to Hartford, Connecticut, and back to Chicago again. After retiring, Richard and Susan moved to Kennesaw, Georgia to be close to their family.

Richard was very devoted to his family and played active roles in the lives of his sons and grandchildren. His love for his family was rivaled only by his love of horse racing and fishing. Richard also spent lots of time tending his garden and sharing stories to all who would listen.

Richard was preceded in death by his father, Roswell Goelz, his mother, Wanda Goelz, his sister Eileen Lubrano, and infant granddaughter, Claire Annabelle Goelz.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Patterson Goelz, two sons, Brett (Kristal) Goelz and Benjamin (Andrea) Goelz, brother, James (Lori) Goelz, sister-in-law, Jean (David) Ladendorf, and brother-in-law, Darwin Lubrano. Forever "Poppy" to his four grandchildren, Emily (Jake) Connelly, Logan Goelz, Austin Goelz, and Blake Goelz and loving uncle to his niece and nephews, Amy Ladendorf (Jeff Feller), Steven (Leslie) Ladendorf, Adam Lubrano, Matt Lubrano, and Mark Lubrano.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Kennesaw, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard's memory to the National Kidney Foundation (https://www.kidney.org/) or Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (https://trfinc.org/) would be greatly appreciated.