John Glen Goche was born Sept. 25, 1934, on the family farm east of Bancroft, son of Leo and Erma (Kahler) Goche. John graduated from St. John’s Catholic High School in 1953.

John met Frances Kodet at an old-time dance in Fairmont, Minn. They were married on Nov. 14, 1958, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bechyn, Minn. They raised their three daughters and farmed four miles east of Bancroft.

John was the epitome of the Iowa farmer with a strong passion for livestock, farm dogs and cats. He started out helping his father farm with horses, graduated to using tractors, and by the time he retired he experienced the advent of computerized farming. His home place was inducted as a centennial farm in 1999.

John loved old-time music, especially concertinas. John and Fran loved traveling to Mankato to listen to KEYC’s Bandwagon music and attended numerous local concertina jamborees. John loved cruising with Fran in their convertible, riding his Goldwing motorcycle including two trips to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, fishing, making furniture, and perennial gardening. He also enjoyed many organized trips to regional attractions and traveling to Singapore and London to visit his daughters. He served on the Lakota School Board from 1972 until 1988, and he was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Bancroft.

John Goche died Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Lakeside Lutheran Home in Emmetsburg. He was 90.

He is survived by three daughters, Laurie (David) Sutherland of Scottsdale, Ariz., Sandra Goche (Stephen Halsted) of Springboro, Ohio, and Becky Goche (Cheryl Groom) of La Crosse, Wis.; a sister, Lucille Hellman of Bancroft; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Fran on Aug. 26, 2015; his parents-in-law, Adolph and Lydia Kodet; a brother, Raymond Goche; and a sister, Leona Hellman.

Oakcrest Funeral Services of Bancroft is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.

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