Richard William Goetsch (Dick), of Jerome, Idaho, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family. He was 91.

Dick was born January 10, 1935, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, the son of Elmer Frederich and Sarah Edwina (Altwies) Goetsch. The family moved to Glendale, California, in 1942 where he was raised and educated. During his high school years, he returned to Oconomowoc and worked on the family farm after his father passed away in 1949.

In April of 1953, Dick entered the United States Army during the Korean War and served as a large vehicle driver and later as a company clerk. Upon discharge from the military, Dick held various jobs and attended correspondence school to learn accounting. He worked for many firms in Southern California, also learning about electronics and eventually testing components that became part of the Lunar Lander.

He married Janice Lynn Brinton on October 3,1954, and together they had two sons, Dale and Alan. In 1968 the family moved to Idaho, where Dick worked in sales and progressed into computer management and continued to work in accounting.

Dick joined the Presbyterian Church in Jerome and began volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America. He eventually became a Scoutmaster and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He and Janice were later divorced.

Dick joined Calvary Episcopal Church, Jerome, in the early 1970s and became an Ordained Deacon in 1988. He continued to serve the Episcopal Church as Deacon throughout the Magic Valley for the next 37 years.

He married Aileen Nearing, on July 19, 1978, in Jerome and later adopted her two children, JoHanna and Justin.

Dick took a position as office manager at Chris Jordan Volkswagen in Twin Falls, where he beta-tested new software for inventory and sales. He later moved to a position in accounting for Idaho Home Health and Hospice. In 1995, he joined Hospice Visions, where he worked for 21 years as a hospice chaplain. He remained with Hospice Visions as a Veteran- to- Veteran volunteer after his retirement.

Dick was a member of the Twin Falls Masonic Lodge #45 AF & AM and was raised to Master. He was also a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association, the Gold Wing Road Riders, and American Legion Post #46. In his free time, Dick enjoyed riding his motorcycle, camping, canoeing, fishing, and tying flies.

Dick is survived by his wife of 48 years, Aileen Amanda Goetsch; two sons from his prior marriage to Janice: Dale (Daria) Goetsch (and former wife Chris Dunlap), grandchildren Ellen and Katie; son Alan Goetsch (Susi Rennick, SO); grandson Matt; daughter JoHanna Lloyd (Wade Mathews, SO); son Justin Goetsch; and brother Philip (Carol) Goetsch. Dick was also blessed with three great- grandchildren.

Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Twin Falls with the Rt. Rev. Jos Tharakan, Bishop of Idaho, presiding with the Rev. Shawn Carty. Burial with Masonic and Military Rites will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Snake River Canyon National Veteran’s Cemetery, the Rev. Shawn Carty presiding. 

Dick’s family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff at Hospice Visions for their wonderful care, love, and support in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Hospice Visions, 455 Parkview Loop E, Twin Falls, ID 83301.