Gerald Goff
Posted by SiteJudge on Dec 31st, 2012 // No Comment
Gerald Dean Goff of Bourbon, Missouri passed away on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at Life Care Center of Sullivan at the age of 90 years, five months, and 27 days.
Gerald was born June 15, 1922 in Adamsville, Texas to William Marshall Goff and Effie Katie Carroll. He was the youngest of 6 children. His brothers R.E. and Sidney, and sisters, Lorene and Linnie, preceded him in death. He is survived by a brother Cecil J. Goff (and wife, Esther) of Sunrise, Florida. Gerald married Joan Knost on February 2, 1946 and to this union three children were born; two sons, Geoffrey Dean Goff of St. Clair, Missouri and William Andrew Goff and wife, Jeri, also of St. Clair; a daughter, Martha Jo Sanchez and husband, Jose, of Bourbon, Missouri.Joan preceded Gerald in death in November of this year.
Gerald was a devoted reader and wanted to understand the purpose of life and the reason for suffering. His search for these answers led him to an intensive study of the Bible and as a result he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on September 11, 1938 and from that time on continued sharing Bible knowledge with everyone he met.
A highlight of Gerald’s career came in February of 1943 when he attended the first class of what was then called the “Watch Tower Bible College of Gilead” in South Lansing, New York. The purpose of the school would be to train missionaries for service in foreign countries. Gerald received instruction in such courses as International law, Bible Research and a subject that would serve him well in later years, Spanish.
Although Gerald was never able to serve in a foreign country, he was assigned as a traveling representative of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society to visit groups or congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the state of Missouri. That was the reason that he began to develop a special relationship with an attractive, lively young woman by the name of Joan Knost who lived in the St. Louis area. As earlier stated, they were married in February of 1946. Although Gerald had to suspend his service as a Bible teacher on a full-time basis in order to support a family, he never lost his zeal for the evangelizing work and his desire to help as many honest-hearted ones as possible to learn God’s truth. For this reason he moved his family from Kirkwood, Missouri in 1963 to help support a small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sullivan, Missouri. His love for people and for his God Jehovah moved him to approach people at home, on the street and at work in order to share the good news of God’s Kingdom through Christ with them. Many Sullivan residents became accustomed to seeing Gerald stand outside the old “Aldi’s” store every Saturday morning, warmly greeting everyone who passed by and encouraging them to read the “Watchtower” and “Awake!” magazines.
Gerald came from a family of musicians and he enjoyed singing, dancing and strumming the guitar. He also had a special fondness for the Spanish language and spent many hours conducting Bible Study programs with area residents that spoke Spanish, thus laying the basis for a Spanish Bible Study group that now meets at the local Kingdom Hall in Sullivan.
In January of 2011, Gerald was diagnosed with moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type and as a result was moved to Victorian Manor Memory Care Unit of Cuba in April of 2011. He was well cared for by the staff of Victorian Manor and felt comfortable and happy in his surroundings. Even though his mental powers were becoming noticeably diminished, he never lost his zeal and love for the ministry. He continued to share Bible truths with all who would listen; nurses, aides, residents or visitors and sometimes even in Spanish!
There are many things that could be said about Gerald Goff, but in summary, he was first and foremost and evangelizer and it could be said of him as was said of the apostle Paul: “(He) has fought the fine fight. (He) has run the course to the finish.” (2Timothy 4:7)
Memorial services were conducted at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 23, 2012 from the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Sullivan, Missouri with Mr. Elmer Zumsteg officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gerald’s name.
Arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri.
Online condolences may be offered at eatonfuneralhome.com.