Goertz, Joanne A.

September 12, 1933 - May 16, 2010 Our awesome, amazing, 
adventurous mom, Jo Goertz, has made her final journey. She 
had a zest for life, a passion for cycling, and a deep devotion 
to her children and family. She grew up in Seattle and married 
fellow U of W student Bob Goertz on February 11, 1956. 
Bob'scareer as a fighter pilot took the family across the 
country and around the world, but the primary focus was 
always on raising their four strong and independent children. 
When Bob retired from the Air Force and thechildren were 
well on their way, she went back to school and became 
asurgical technician. She was one of the top students in her 
class and went on to be the lead surgical technician in charge 
of eye surgeries at Deaconess Medical Center. While managing 
an amazing home life and successful career, she indulged her 
passion for bicycling and adventure. She biked in events like 
the Seattle to Portland ride, Tour of the Swan River Valley and 
other rides throughout the Northwest and even in New 
Zealand. She climbed Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker. She ran 
several Bloomsdays and Pepsi Runs, and was a 25+ year 
finisher of the Pend Oreille Wilderness Run. She did all of this 
while always putting her family first and making the lives of 
those around her better for having known her. We are simply 
in awe of all she was and everything she did in the all-too-
brief time we were so blessed to share with her. She died as 
she lived her life, in her home surrounded by love and family 
and more concerned with them than herself. She is survived 
by her husband of 54 years, Bob Goertz, their children, Mike 
Goertz, Sandy Jacques, Kathi Johnson, and Amy Goertz, and 
nine grandchildren. The family will be having a celebration of 
life on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, starting at 2:00 p.m. Call 
Kathi (509) 954-3724 or Amy (206) 949-9663 for more 
information. In gratitude for their thoughtful care of our mom 
and support of our family, her family suggests donations to 
Hospice of Spokane, 121 S. Arthur, Spokane, WA 99202. 1-
888-459-0438. www.hospiceofspokane.org 
www.heritagefunerals.com 

Published in Spokesman-Review from May 18 to May 19, 2010