Blanche J. Goergen

Blanche J. Goergen, 82 of Sioux City passed away peacefully on Friday, November 24, 2017 at Holy Spirit Retirement Home. Services will be at 10:30 A.M. Friday at the Church of the Nativity Catholic Church. Rev. Daniel Rupp will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Thursday with the family present from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 P.M. all at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.

Blanche was born on June 27, 1935 to Wally and Gertie Schreiber in Sioux City. She attended Immaculate Conception grade school and Heelan High School. Blanche married James L. Goergen on April 17, 1955 at St. Francis Church. As proprietors of Park Bowl Bowling Lanes, they made countless lifelong friendships.

Blanche worked as parish secretary of Immaculate Conception Church for 18 years. She enjoyed the many antics of the priests she worked for, especially her beloved friends, Msgr. Frank Brady and Rev. Gerald Zensen.

Jim and Blanche moved to Midland, Michigan after the Park Bowl fire in 1987. There, Blanche became very active in the bowling business, the Junior Bowling program, the Ladies Leagues, serving hot dogs and cleaning windows and floors and anywhere she could find dirt.

Jim and Blanche moved back to Iowa in 1993 and bought a home on West Lake Okoboji which became the vacation destination for their entire family and friends. Blanche became active in St. Joseph Parish in Milford including eucharistic minister, Finance Board, Prayer Shawl Ministry and the St. Joseph Quilters. Blanche enjoyed golf, Rummicube and beating her family at cribbage.

Jim and Blanche moved to Sioux City in July 2015. Blanche once again was able to enjoy her beloved Heelan High School sports and former classmates. Blanche’s quick wit, sense of humor and beauty inside and out (aka Beautiful Blanche) will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Blanche is survived by her children Rick (Nickee) of Midland, MI, Sherri (Jim) Rossiter of Sioux City, Bo (Kim) of Midland, MI, Jeff (Patti) of Golden, CO and Shelley of Omaha, NE. Her grandchildren Alena, Ben, Jacob, Tyler, Lindsay, Brady, Joe, Izaac, Asjia, Nicole and Nathan. Her siblings, Bernie (Nyla) Schreiber of Dakota Dunes, Sharon (Max) Godfrey of Sioux City and Connie (Larry) Chapman of Okoboji, IA, brother in law Rob (Jane) Happe of Carrollton, TX and brother in law, Gene (Theresa) Goergen of Sioux City. She is also survived by 9 great-grandchildren including 1 due in February 2018 and countless nieces and nephews who adored her.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Jim in April 2016, her parents, sister Jolene Happe, sister in law Judy Schreiber and niece Tracy Schreiber. Memorials may be made to Bishop Heelan Catholic High School or Nativity’s Jubilation Choir.