Hans Goettsch

Hans H. Goettsch, 85, a life-long resident of Bettendorf, Iowa peacefully died in his sleep on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at his home.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Chapel in Bettendorf.  He will be laid to rest at the Rock Island National Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Monday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to Camp Courageous or the Bettendorf Fire Department Benevolent Fund.

He was born in Davenport, Iowa on February 21, 1927, the son of Hans C. & Anna Marie (Butenschoen) Goettsch.  Hans enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and was stationed in Hawaii.  After his honorable discharge, he returned to Bettendorf and opened Hans’ Skelly Service at 18 ^th & State St. in 1949.

On June 17, 1950 he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Dorothy E. Meinert at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport.

Hans later operated Hans’ Garage, an automotive repair service and founded Hans’ Body Shop in 1957 on State St. in Bettendorf.  He had a life-long love of cars and in 1959, established Hans’ Used Cars in Bettendorf.  He and his beloved little brother, Herb worked closely over the years and together owned & operated Goettsch Brothers Realty along with many other automotive related endeavors.  Hans retired in 1992, but remained active in the family business.  He recently traveled to Washington, D.C. with other veterans aboard the Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial.

Hans was a long-time and devoted member of the Bettendorf Volunteer Fire Department and served as their Fire Chief for 10 years.  He also served as an alderman for the City of Bettendorf for one term.

He & Dorothy loved to dance, enjoyed traveling and spent many warm enjoyable winters in Arizona, Florida and Texas where they made many wonderful friends over the years.

Hans was a member of the Antique Ford Club, the British Car Club and was a proud owner of a beautiful 1948 Chevy among other classic cars.

His family has lost a devoted husband, a great dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and brother and the memories he created will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife of 63 years, Dorothy; his daughters, Gretchen (Nils) Steiger of Hillsdale, Illinois and Jennifer (Pat) Redmond of Russellville, Arkansas; his sons, Hans L. Goettsch of Peoria, Arizona, Fred E. (Pamela) Goettsch of Bettendorf, George A. (Joetta) Goettsch of Bettendorf and Paul H. (Jane) Goettsch of Bettendorf; twenty-one grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and his brother, Herb Goettsch of Bettendorf.

His parents preceded him in death.