The Rev. Garland Earl Gotoski

View Photo TributeThe Reverend Garland E. Gotoski, 93, of DeWitt, Iowa, was called to his heavenly home Tuesday afternoon, August 6, 2013.The family will receive friends at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt, from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 11, 2013. The Service of Christian Burial expressing faith in the promised glory of the Lord''s Resurrection, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 12, 2013, at Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt. The Reverend Ron Rafferty will serve as liturgist and The Reverend Doctor Brian Saunders will serve as homilist. Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery.A A A  Pallbearers will be David Hanssen, Mark Comer,A Alan Ruggeberg, Kim Haring, Jon Betz and Gaylon Heetland. Honorary pallbearers will be Kurt Saterbak, Steve Gotoski, Christopher McNulty, Patrick McNulty, Mark Carlson, Paul Hanssen, Fred Smith and Jon Belsaas.Garland Earl Gotoski was born October 1, 1919, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Adam August and Marie Theresa (Polege) Gotoski. He was a 1938 graduate of West Waterloo High School. Growing up during the depression years, Garland started to work various jobs to help with the family finances. He fried hamburgers and washed dishes for 40 cents an hour and worked at Rath Packing and Benner Tea Company both in Waterloo. Garland served his country in the United States Army during World War II, serving in the Asian Theatre in 1945-46. Because of the GI Bill, he was able to follow the call of his Lord to ministry. He enrolled in Wartburg College at Waverly, Iowa, and later Wartburg Seminary at Dubuque, Iowa, where he received his Master of Divinity degree.A Reverend Gotoski was ordained as a Pastor of the American Lutheran Church on June 3, 1951. He began his service in Christ''s Church helping to establish mission congregations in Duluth, Minnesota (Christ Lutheran Church), and in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Faith Lutheran Church). Pastor Gotoski also served in American Lutheran Churches: Bethany, Tulsa, Oklahoma; St. Mark''s, Chillicothe, Illinois; St. Luke''s, Manchester, Missouri, and Ascension, Ogden, Utah, where he retired from full time ministry. He went on to serve part time at Trinity Lutheran Church, Clifton, Texas. In 1989, Reverend Gotoski became a Pastor of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and served at Our Savior, Whitney, Texas; Zion, Dallas, Texas, and Grace, DeWitt (a call he took at 82 years old). He officially retired on July 1, 2007, but continued to serve as he was able.A A  He married the former Frieda Walz on July 27, 1941, and she preceded him in death in 1988. Pastor Gotoski then married Cordella Ernest Mitsch in 1989 and she preceded him in death in 1996. In December of that year, he married Grace Hanssen. Pastor would be quick to exclaim what a blessing these women were to him and his ministry. Although much of Reverend Gotoski''s life was spent in service to Christ and His church, he was talented in the arts of oil painting, sketching and drama.A  He truly was enthusiastic about life and the Lord. Pastor enjoyed visiting and had a great sense of humor. No matter what the situation though, his focus always turned toward the cross. He wanted people to see their life and the lives of others as a gift of grace from God through Christ Jesus their Lord. He encouraged people to thank God for his grace that they are all saved through faith in Jesus the Christ. Reverend Gotoski himself was so very thankful to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for his family and friends and the honor, privilege and joy in service to Jesus Christ.Surviving are his wife, Grace; a son, Gerald "Jerry" (Margaret) Gotoski of Yucca Valley, California; a daughter, Cordella "Cordy" Madorin of Janesville, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Christine Gotoski, Cathy (Brian) Gengler, Steven (Heather) Gotoski, Julie McNulty and Kurt (Becky) Saterbak; great-grandchildren, Christopher and Patrick McNulty, Andie and Arika Saterbak, Nathan, Benjamin, and Ella Rose Gotoski and Annette and Jonathan Gengler. He is also survived by his father-in-law, Henry Hanssen and other relatives and friends.In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents, two infant siblings, a son-in-law, Neil Madorin, his mother-in-law, Ethel Hanssen as well as other relatives.Condolences may be expressed and a photo tribute viewed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.