Leona Goehle

IN MEMORY OF
LEONA ESTHER GOEHLE

Leona was the third child of nine born to Nels and Clara Sandager at their farmhouse in Hills, Minnesota on June 24, 1920. After graduating from Hills Public School in 1938, she attended Mankato State Teachers College where she received a Teaching Certificate in 1940. She began teaching at a small country schoolhouse in Ash Creek. She traveled to Oakland, California to marry Henry John Paul Goehle in 1942 and stayed to help with the World War II effort. After her husband was posted overseas, Leona returned to Minnesota to live with her parents where their first child Mary was born in 1943. Upon Henry's return in 1945, they moved to a farm near Edgerton where their next two children were born, James (1946) and Susan (1947). In 1948, Henry and Leona purchased a farm a mile west of Tyler where their remaining children were born - Jeanne (1949), Nancy (1950), Henry (1952), Caron and Carol (1954) and Lorelee (1957).
In 1965 after working for the Tyler Journal and State Farm Insurance, Leona resumed her career in teaching young children for the Lake Benton and Tyler Public Schools. During these years, between the raising of her nine children and demands of her teaching profession, she commuted to Mankato and Marshall State Colleges graduating in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in education. She retired from teaching in 1985.
Leona's curiosity and desire to impart knowledge exceeded the boundaries of her classroom. She encouraged her family and friends to seek out new experiences and broaden their horizons. Her enthusiasm to travel was contagious. Many of her overseas trips were to visit family living aboard. Her adventures continued even after her husband passed away during a 1989 New Zealand trip.
Nothing was more important to Leona than her family. You could always find Leona using her IPad to share a cup of coffee with her brother and sisters, talk with her children and grandchildren, and watch the antics of her great grandchildren.
Leona had a unique ability to connect with people. Family and friends sought her out for words of wisdom and comfort. Leona lived her life following the moral values of her Christian heritage. Her acceptance of others and zest for life drew people to her. Calling her 'Mom' extended well beyond her immediate family to many whose lives she touched. Leona will be remembered for her love of humanity and nature.

No words can capture her essence, she was a grand lady!

She is lovingly remembered by her children; Mary (and John) Rowe of Madison, Wisconsin, James (and Christine) Goehle of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, Susan (and Terrell) Newby of Bonney Lake, Washington, Jeanne (and James) Sternbergh of Healdsburg, California, Nancy (and David) Dobbs of Payson, Arizona, Henry (and Bronwyn) Goehle of Tyler, Minnesota, Caron (and Gerald) Branch of Battle Ground, Washington, Carol (and John) Yencopal of Vancouver, Washington, and Lorelee Goehle of Oceanside, California; 13 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; siblings, Marie Muckala of Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, Sheldon (and Eleanor) Sandager of Hills, Minnesota, Lee (and Betty) Sandager of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, and Anita Johnson of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; parents, Nels and Clara Sandager; siblings, Victor Sandager, Lenore (and Robert) Hansen, Paul Sandager, Beulah Sandager; brothers-in-law Merle Muckala and Harold Johnson.

Blessed be her memory!