Leo C. Goehring of Lakewood, Colorado, passed away on Thursday morning, February 21, 2013 in Colorado Springs, CO. He is predeceased by his loving wife of 50 years, Palma Goehring, nee Hagel, his son Wesley, his parents Carl and Mathilda Goehring and his sister Stella Remmick.
He is lovingly remembered by his daughter, Belinda Corrie and her husband Lee of Colorado Springs, his daughter-in-law Darla Goehring of Denver, his brother Evans of Ashley, North Dakota, his brother Calvin of Bismarck, North Dakota and his sister Eugenia of Jamestown, North Dakota. He leaves 6 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and loving nieces and nephews.
Leo was born October 24, 1925 in Danzig, North Dakota, a small farming village with proud German roots. He was the second of five children born to Carl and Mathilda Goehring. While a youth, he set traps to sell furs, played snake tag with his brothers, and put down the dance floor on Saturday nights for Lawrence Welk (before he became famous) in his father’s garage. He graduated from Wishek Public Schools in June of 1939.
Leo met Palma Hagel on January 9, 1946 while walking about town; they were engaged April 19, and married June 9, 1946 in Wishek, North Dakota. About a year later Leo and Palma moved to Bismarck, ND, and self-built two homes together. They had two children, Belinda (1950) and Wesley (1953).
He began working as a butcher but soon pursued his love of the automobile. He was part-owner of Missouri Valley Motors in Bismarck. In 1959 on a family vacation to Colorado, Leo fell in love with the mountains and moved his family to Denver, Colorado in 1963 where he worked as a parts manager for multiple Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealers for 27 years. Leo retired in 1990.
He shared his love of country music with family and friends, playing guitar in small groups for church and pleasure. He enjoyed bowling, fishing and his favorite hobby, golf. He followed the Yankees from an early age listening on the radio and became a fan of the Rockies. Leo also spent winter evenings cheering on the Denver Nuggets.
Leo and Palma enjoyed traveling the United States in their latest Chrysler automobile as often as they could with a particular love for the southwest mountains, canyons and deserts. He ventured over water twice, once to Jamaica and a 50th wedding anniversary trip to the Hawaiian Islands.
Leo read the paper every day, enjoyed working in the yard and on his automobiles, going to yard sales, and seeing what he could make from treasures that he found.
He sold his home and moved to Atria Inn of Lakewood in 2009, then to Sterling House in Colorado Springs in 2011. He was repeatedly described as a “sweet man” by residents and staff.
Memorial Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 455 Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202 or www.alz.org/co.
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