Esther Mary (Feldman) Goedken

Esther Mary Goedken, 88, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at the Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa. She was born on October 14, 1934, at home in Dyersville, the daughter of Joseph and Violetta (Reittinger) Feldman. Esther was raised in the area and graduated from Delhi High School.

On May 5, 1959, Esther was united in marriage to Anthony “Bud” Goedken at St. Paul Catholic Church in Worthington. Six children were born to this union. Together they ran the family farm for nearly 45 years. Besides helping on the family farm spending many hours cultivating corn and beans, Esther was waitress at Stone House Inn & Country Club, babysat children and worked for USDA.

Esther was very active in the church choir and various committees and a Catholic Daughter member. She loved to cook, bake, and canning her vegetables and fruit from her garden. Esther enjoyed embroidery, puzzles, dancing, playing cards, playing bingo, and visiting family and friends. She especially enjoyed the time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her six children, Becky (John) Sullivan of Manchester, Rick (Joyce) Goedken of Strawberry Point, Tim Goedken of Hopkinton, Sheryl Becker of Manchester, Scott Goedken of Manchester, and Jenny (Mike) Myers of Lisbon; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and one on the way; two sisters, Darline Schuman of Earlville, and Shirley Putz of Manchester; brothers and sisters-in law,  Andy (Maxine) Goedken of Dyersville, Donna Sellner of Manchester, Eileen (William) Wiskus of Luxemburg, Shirley Feldman of Dyersville, and Lois Goedken of Dyersville; and many nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Violetta Feldman; her parents-in-law, Lawrence and Veronica Goedken; her husband, Anthony “Bud” Goedken in 2021; her brother, James Feldman; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom (Grace) Feldman; Gladys (Donald) Steger, Irvin Sellner, Leo Goedken, and Everett Schuman.

Esther's family would like to thank the Good Neighbor Society and Regional Medical Center for their wonderful care of their mother.

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