Joseph Anthony Goeden entered into eternal life January 7, 2016 at Mosaic in Beatrice, NE, at the age of 56.

The mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 6, 2016 at St. Boniface Church in Menominee, Nebraska, 55768 894th Road, Fordyce, Nebraska 68736, with Rev. Rodney Kneifl officiating and Rev. Mike Schmitz, concelebrant. Visitation will be the same day, February 6, 2016, before the mass at 9:00 a.m., Rosary at 9:30 and Mass at 10:30, Interment will be at St. Boniface Cemetery, next to the church. A luncheon will follow at the parish hall and all are invited. Waterbury Funeral Service, Inc. of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa is in charge of arrangements.

Joe was born August 10, 1959 in Yankton SD to John J. and Agatha (Reifenrath) Goeden. Joe grew up 8 miles south of Yankton, SD on Hwy 81. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Menominee, NE. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He attended school in Hartington, NE with Mrs. Noecker as his teacher until the age of 19. He then, moved to Bloomfield, NE where he resided in a group home and worked at Region IV. In 1983 to 1984, he lived with his brother LeRoy and Marcia Goeden in Yankton, SD and worked and went to school at the Special Ed. School in Yankton, SD. In 1984 he moved back to Bloomfield and continued to work at Region IV. In 2015 he moved to Mosaic in Beatrice, NE.


Joe enjoyed attending family weddings and wedding dances, family get togethers and community events. He always made sure his room was orderly before leaving. While at Bloomfield, he enjoyed going to Boy Scout camp and other camping and community events. Joe was well known in many of the surrounding communities when he would go shopping or going to events. He would always acknowledge and greet people. Joe was the only sibling who had forty nieces and nephews. His siblings had less because they could not count their own children.

Survivors include two brothers Harold (Carol) Goeden of Wells, MN, LeRoy (Marcia) Goeden of Sgt. Bluff, IA and three sisters Beverley (Donavan) Guenther of Crofton, NE, Jeanette (Stanley) Kneifl of Ponca, NE, Dorothy (Dallas) Hochstein of Hartington, NE and brother-in-law Dan Hayford of Blaine, MN and thirty-nine nieces and nephews and many great nieces and great nephews. Roommates Dan and Dwight and the staff at Region IV, Bloomfield, NE. Roommates Dan and Doug and the staff at Mosaic in Beatrice, NE.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, John J. and Agatha Goeden, sister Darlene Hayford and nephew Michael Hayford and nephew-in-law Brian Wagner.

In Lieu of flowers, Memorials are preferred to mentally challenged organizations such as “Cedar Knox Good Neighbors”. John and Agatha, along with other families started “Cedar Knox Good Neighbors.” They help family’s deal with their special needs loved ones.