John G. Goense, 89, of Traverse City passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at Munson Hospice House.
John was born on August 16, 1926 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of the late John F. and Theresa (Schmeiser) Goense. He was a graduate of Catholic Central High School, attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1951.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and spent 12 months in the Seventh Amphibious Force in the South Pacific, Far East and China. He was in the last invasion of World War II at Balikpapan, Borneo.
John married Rita J. De Young in Owosso, Michigan on September 11, 1954. She preceded him in death on September 27, 2011. With John's career, they lived in Owosso, Flint, Mt. Clemens, Rochester Hills, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. They moved to Leelanau County in 1994.
He joined Consumers Power Company in February 1951 as a lighting sales assistant in Bay City. He became power sales engineer in Owosso in November 1951 and transferred to Flint in 1955 as a power sales engineer there.
In 1962, he was named assistant to the division manager in East Detroit and became assistant division manager there in 1967. In October 1970, he was named division manager of the Pontiac division. He became manager of the Grand Rapids Division in May 1972. In 1976, he was named general manager of the Northern Region, which encompassed the 30 northern counties of the lower peninsula of Michigan and he served in that position until he retirement in 1987.
Mr. Goense has been active in civic affairs in several cities. He was past president of the Owosso Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Roseville Rotary Club. He also served as first vice president and on the board of directors of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce and the Macomb County Society for Crippled Children.
In Pontiac, he was the general chairman of the 1972 Development Program for the Clinton Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was director of the Pontiac Area United Fund and the Pontiac Urban Coalition. He was a member of the Pontiac Rotary Club, North Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Engineering Society of Detroit, and Pontiac City Club.
Mr. Goense was a past chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board – Grand Rapids and the Aquinas College Parents' Fund. He served on the board of directors of the United Way of Kent County, the Greater Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Hundred Club of Grand Rapids. He was a member of the Aquinas College President's Development Council, National Alliance of Businessmen's Advisory Committee of West Michigan, Press Club of Grand Rapids, Breakfast Club of Grand Rapids, Executive 100 Club, the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids, and the Peninsular Club.
In Traverse City, he has been a board member of the Traverse City Rotary Club, and a trustee of Rotary Charities and Rotary Camps and Services, and has served as treasurer of both organizations. He was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. He was on the board of directors of the National Bank and Trust of Traverse City. He was a member of the Traverse Area Industrial Fund and the Traverse Area Chamber of Commerce. He worked on special gifts for the Grand Traverse United Way and was a member of the Northwestern Michigan College Businessmen's Advisory Council.
He was one of the five "Founding Trustees" of the Rotary Center of Traverse City, owners of the Park Place Hotel, and served as secretary of the board for six years.
He was chairman of the Rotary Center Education Committee which was the liaison between Rotary Center and Northwestern Michigan College for the Resort Management and Culinary program. His contributions were acknowledged with the Rotary Club's highest service award, the Red Rose.
He was a corporate member of Munson Healthcare, the Rotary Club, the Northwestern Retirees Club of Consumers Power Company and the University of Michigan Club of Traverse City. He was a member of the Economic Club of Traverse City and was a charter member of the Emmaus Society of the Gaylord Diocese.
John and his wife, Rita, enjoyed traveling and visited all 50 states of the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Lichtenstein, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland and England.
John is survived by four children, John M. (Janell) Goense of Miami Beach, Florida, Diane (Jack) White of Middleville, Mark (Audrey) Goense of Traverse City, Carol (Mike) Tafelsky of Burlington, NC and five grandchildren, Jacqueline Goense, John E. Goense, Alexandra Goense, Michaella Tafelsky and Nick Tafelsky.
Friends are welcome to visit with John's family on Sunday, August 14, 2016 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684, with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., with visiting one hour prior, on Monday, August 15, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1025 S. Union St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Rev. Fr. Benjamin Rexroat will officiate. Right of committal will follow a luncheon at Oakwood Catholic Cemetery.
Military Honors conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Navy and Cherryland V.F.W. Post 2780.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial donation to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church or Alzheimer's Association.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with John's family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .
The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.