Virginia Lee Goeckeler

Virginia Lee (Long) Goeckeler, 80, of North Sioux City, SD passed away peacefully January 29th at her home.

Virginia was the eldest daughter of Charley and Dorothy Long. She and her siblings Jerry, Robert, and Judy, grew up in Springfield, MO and Kansas City, KS. She graduated from Rosedale High School in 1961. She was a member of the Roanoke Baptist Church as a teenager where she learned to be active in Sunday School, Bible Study, and Youth Ministries, activities that were useful to her as a future Minister’s wife!

When her best friend Wilma was getting married, she introduced Virginia as Maid of Honor to the Best Man, Ted Goeckeler on a blind date, and a year later they were married! Ted invited her to the New Apostolic Church, where she became a faithful Sister for the rest of her life. She was active in Sunday School, Choir, Religious Instruction, Confirmation Instruction, and Small Group Discussion. 

As the Helpmate of a New Apostolic Priest, she hosted meals to hundreds of people over her lifetime and welcomed a multitude of guests into her home. She had a ready smile at all times, and would give you or lend you anything you needed if she could. She was a friend to everyone she met.

Ted and Virginia had 3 children, Kathy, Ted, and Doug. The family was raised not only to be active in Church, but to play board games and card games together on Family Nights. To this day, any time they are reunited, someone will have a couple of decks of cards and a lively game of Concentration Gin or Hand & Foot will begin. They also enjoyed puzzle assembly, and with some laughter at feline interference, many trips back to Kansas City included setting up the table with a puzzle and roping visiting dignitaries into putting a few pieces in place.

Although she had early jobs as an insurance secretary and teacher’s aid, Virginia spent over 40 years working as a Medical Billing Manager at KU Medical Center, The Kansas City Medical Group, Gastrointestinal Associates, and finally for Dr James Gracheck. 

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Charley and Dorothy (Cherry) Long, her brother Jerry Long, her husband of 49 years Ted Goeckeler, Jr, brother-in-law Bob Poole, sister-in-law Judy Goeckeler, her son Douglas Goeckeler, son-in-law Kevin Inness, and two grandchildren, Trisha and Jamie Inness.

She is survived by her brother Robert (Sally) Long, sister Judy (Jerry) Ginest, sisters-in-law Clara Poole, Darlene (Bill) Norman, and Karen Long, and brother-in-law Fred Goeckeler, daughter Kathy Inness, son Ted (Jerica) Goeckeler, III, daughter-in-law Tracey Goeckeler, three grandchildren, Heather Inness, Darrell Goeckeler, and Trina (Brandon) Liddle, and cousins, nieces, and nephews galore!

Virginia spent her lifetime loving people, animals, and especially babies and was a beloved Aunt ‘Ginia or Mammo to children everywhere. Her strengths and passions were her gifts of prayer and hospitality.  She was a blessing to all, and the best Mom to her 3 kids. She also “adopted” many people into her family as honorary brothers and sisters, or honorary children and grandchildren. I would be eternally ashamed to mention some and miss one. Each is a treasure, and you know who you are. 

Auf Wiedersehen or ‘Till We Meet Again!