William "Bill" A. Goedeken, 91, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Sunday, January 28, 2024, at the Columbus Community Hospital.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 10:30 AM, at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Columbus, with Rev. William Voelker officiating.  Interment will be in the parish cemetery.  Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Thursday from 9:30 AM until service time at the church.  There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 AM on Thursday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Cornerstone Center Fellowship Hall.

William "Bill" Albert Goedeken was born December 13, 1932, in Columbus, Nebraska, to Albert and Margaret (Sievers) Goedeken.  He was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church.  Bill attended rural Platte County District 36 and Christ Lutheran Grade School.  He lived and farmed on the farm that his grandfather had homesteaded, raising crops and cattle.  On July 6, 1990, Bill was united in marriage to Helen Hammond who he had met through a church activity.  The couple were part of the Christian Growth group at Christ Lutheran.  After his retirement, Bill loved going to his several coffee groups, and visiting.

Bill is survived by:
Wife – Helen Goedeken of Columbus, NE
Stepchildren – Bonnie (Joe) Hughes of Las Vegas, NV; Elizabeth Eighmey of Knoxville, TN; Cole Hammond of Auburn, CA; Hoss (Jennifer) Hammond, Sr. of Randolph, NE; and Lori Lienemann of Houston, TX
14 Step Grandchildren
24 Step Great-Grandchildren
Niece – Nancy (Roger) Gehring of Columbus, NE – Tammy (John) Caldwell and Amanda Gehring
Niece – Bev (Milt) Pfeifer of Norfolk, NE – Scott (Nicole) and Justin (Lacey) Pfeifer
Niece – Lynn Hellbusch of Bellwood, NE – Risa (Brody) Riha and Rena (Jared) Beran

Bill was preceded in death by:
Parents – Albert and Margaret Goedeken
Sister – Helen Hellbusch
Brother-in-law – Ruben Hellbusch
Nephew – Rick Hellbusch
Great-Nephew – Todd Gehring
Great-Great Niece – Kaitlyn Caldwell
Stepson – Lowell Lienemann