Goergen, William W. 'Bill' 1901-1955

GOERGEN, GODDARD, WERDER, KUEFLER, MCCALUM, HALL, BERGEMEYER, POLLOCK, FRYKLUND

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 8/17/2022 at 18:23:48

McGregor, Iowa (Special) - Funeral services for William W. Goergen, 54, prominent McGregor businessman, were held at the Pilkington Funeral Home here Monday.

Mr. Goergen died Saturday following a stroke suffered Thursday. He was a member of a family that for three generations has been prominent in this community.

Survivors are his wife who operates the Marge Georgen Photo studio here; a son, William of Davenport, Iowa, and a daughter, Mrs. Ray Kuefler, of Racine, Wis.

~La Crosse Tribune, April 5, 1955; pg 9 (Tri-State Deaths column)

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William Werder Goergen, life-long resident of McGregor and in business here for many years, died Saturday evening. He suffered a stroke Thursday afternoon while at work and never regained consciousness.

Actively interested in McGregor, he was a member of the Mar-Mac board of education and former president, as well as a trustee of the McGregor Municipal Utilities, at the time of his death.

He played an important part in the recent river front improvement project.

"Bill," the third generation of a McGregor business family, the Werders, Goddards and himself, at various times was in the grocery business, a clerk in the state liquor store, a filling station operator, a restaurant owner and a postal employe.

He was interested in sports and in the days of the McGregor semi pro baseball managed the local team.

"Bill," the son of Peter and Minnie Goergen, was born April 24, 1901, in Winona, Minn.

His mother died when he was a small boy and he was reared by the H.J. Goddards, his aunt and uncle.

He worked in the Goddard grocery store and on his uncle Burt's death became a partner in the store with his cousin, M.W. Goddard. They also purchased the Antlers Cafe, enlarged and improved the dining room and helped make famous the "they swam this morning" fish slogan of the early "30's."

Bill later operated a filling station and during the war, with Paul Kossack, went to work in the shipyards at Oakland, Calif. On his return he was a civil service employe in the McGregor postoffice and a year ago he formed a partnership with Jack McWilliams in the McWilliams' Standard Station.

Although his family and friends knew his health was not good, his death was a surprise and shock.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Pilkington funeral home, with the Rev. F.E. Mastin officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Grove cemetery.

He is survived by his widow, Margery, who operates the Goergen Studio, a son, William, of Davenport, a daughter, June (Mrs. Ray Kuefler) of Racine and an aunt, Mrs. J.G. McCalum of Chatanooga, Tenn., and one grandchild.

Out of town relatives here for the services were: Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Goddard of Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hall of Iowa City; Mrs. J.E. Bergemeyer of Colton, Calif.; Mrs. J.C. Pollock, son Charles and daughter Helen of Dennison; Doris Sanderson of Webb; Mrs. Ethel Fryklund of Grand Meadow, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Wm Goergen of Davenport; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kuefler and son, Racine, Wis.

~North Iowa Times, Thursday, April 7, 1955 (included the photo)

Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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