John Albert Goltz, 80

Husband. Dad. Daddy. Grampa. Great-Grampa. Father-in-law. Friend, Loved.

These aren’t just words to describe John Albert Goltz, he answered to all of them.
John died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.

Married to Joyce for 53 love-filled years, he was Dad and Daddy to Nancy, Mary, Linda, John and Jeff.
John was Grampa to Lance and Stephanie, Shane and Amber, Will, Kate, Bo, Julie, Colin and Ewan. Natalie and Mason would call him Great-Grampa.

The proud owner of a perfect 300-game in bowling, he was an avid Alabama football fan, a fisherman and a staunch supporter of his children’s and grandchildren’s activities.

An Army veteran of the Vietnam War, he retired after 24 years as a master sergeant and served as a quality assurance specialist for the Army TMDE Support Activity.

A native of Tracy, MN, and a member of First United Methodist Church, he was the oldest of 11 children. John was born on June 18, 1934.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Goltz; daughters, Nancy Goltz Keller (Bobby), Mary Goltz McLaughlin (Bud) and Linda Goltz Patty (Chris); sons, John Goltz and Jeffrey Goltz; grandchildren, Lance McLaughlin (Stephanie), Shane McLaughlin (Amber), Bo McLaughlin, Will Nunn, Kate Nunn, Julie Nunn, Colin Goltz and Ewan Goltz; great-grandchildren, Natalie McLaughlin and Mason McLaughlin; sisters Norma Klein, Lois Sorenson, Marilyn Leysen, Ruth Goltz and Charlotte Hatton; brothers, David Goltz, Donald Goltz and Lyle Goltz.

John was preceded in death by his parents: Albert “Bert” and Caroline “Meyer” Goltz; sisters: Jeanne Baack and Nyla Rolland.

The memorial service with Rev. Coy Hallmark and Rev. Dr. Glenn Conner officiating was Saturday, October 11, 2014, at Valhalla Funeral Home, followed by a private family interment in Valhalla Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Disabled American Veterans Chapter 26, 3313 South Memorial Parkway, Huntsville AL 35801.