Donna Goetsch

Donna Mae Goetsch (née Nelson) passed away peacefully in her home at The Springs at Anna Marie in Medford, Oregon, on December 26, 2024. She was born at home on the family farm outside Beloit, Wisconsin, to Elmer Nelson and Mildred Nelson (née Reagle) on February 24, 1935. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 1, 1949, and graduated from Orfordville High School in Orfordville, Wisconsin in May of 1952.
On February 19, 1955, Donna married Eugene Clifford Goetsch at Luther Valley Lutheran Church in Rock County, Wisconsin. As a devoted and loving Air Force wife, she adventured with Gene and their growing family to various assigned stations in Hawaii, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and retiring after Gene's last station in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Over the years, she held many interesting jobs including a bank teller, on the factory line at the Solo Cup Company, switchboard operator at a telephone company, writing classified ads at The Herald and News newspaper and managing the body shop office at Lithia Motors.
After Gene passed away in 1978 and all the kids finished school, Donna moved to Medford, Oregon. She was a long-time active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Central Point, Oregon, and served as the church secretary for many years. Donna was an avid fan of crosswords and word puzzles, enjoyed embroidery and counted cross stich, meticulously researched and documented family history and genealogy, and loved to cheer on her favorite baseball team, the Seattle Mariners. She also liked keeping up with her grandchildren's sports, music, academic, and travel adventures. A bowl of chocolates and hard candies sat ready on the counter for any grandchildren and great-grandchildren that visited.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Gene. She is survived by her children: Clifford Goetsch of Maple Valley, Washington, Linna Stanaland (husband Tom) of Medford, Oregon, Curtis Goetsch (wife Jackie) of Woodstock, Georgia, Bruce Goetsch (wife Lori) of Lakeview, Oregon, and Brenda Hasler (husband Kim) of Chandler, Arizona; grandchildren: Rachael, Adam, Janiece (Ryan), John (Megan), Lauren (Matt), Lindsey (fiancé Alex), Laura (Chase), Lindsey (Sam), Landon (Jen), Breanna (Quincy), Jordan (fiancé Tyler), Kent, Kristina, Karolyn, and Kyle; twenty-three great-grandchildren; brother David Nelson of Medford, Oregon; nieces and nephews and their families.
Donna will be interred next to Gene at Eternal Hills Cemetery in Klamath Falls, Oregon. A memorial service will be held later this Spring.