Bob Goodell

Robert Arthur Goodell, 98, peacefully passed away on Sunday, July 29, 2018, at Tambree Meadows Assisted Living Center. He was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a beloved church member. Bob was a good-natured individual who enjoyed life with his family. He always had a good sense of humor and was a very caring person who was always available to assist those in need. He was truly a man among men that is revered and missed by family and associates. Bob was born October 19, 1919, in Wewela, South Dakota to Charles Arthur and Anna Hazel Goodell. His family moved to a number of different locations while he was growing up to include Morrill, Nebraska; West Plains, Missouri; Haig, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He graduated from Gering, Nebraska High School. He is a WWII veteran who served in the Army Air Corp 1942 through 1945. A portion of this time he served as a fighter plane mechanic at Umnack Airbase in Alaska, during the battle of Dutch Harbor. Bob graduated from Brigham Young University in 1956 from BYU's first ever engineering class, one of seven. Bob and Mary Lind Irons met while attending college. They were married in the Manti temple on July 8, 1958. They settled in Idaho Falls where Bob worked as a mechanical engineer in support of the National Reactor Testing Station, now the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). His work at "the site" continued through his retirement in 1986. They raised four children together; Ann Marie, Mark, Eric, and Jennifer. After losing his wife, Mary, to cancer on December 5, 1991, Bob later married Virgie Louise Conklin on September 18, 1993, in Provo, Utah. Bob and Virgie have been active members in the church and community. They served a mission for the church at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Bob served faithfully as stake patriarch for twenty-six years. Both Bob and Virgie served as ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple for seventeen years. Bob was an avid sportsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. His family room displays a seven point imperial elk rack from the Idaho mountains. One of his favorite locations for camping with his family was Colter Bay near the Tetons. He also was a Civil War buff and enjoyed visiting historic battlefields whenever opportunity permitted. He is survived by his wife, Virgie Goodell of 25 years; youngest brother, Howard (Janice) Goodell of Salt Lake City, UT; children: Mark (Susan) Goodell of Orlando, FL; Eric (Christine) Goodell of Twin Falls, ID; Jennifer (Donald) Porter of Lehi, UT; step-children: Clay (Elaine) Mayhew of Mesa, AZ; Mike (Mary) Mayhew of Payson, UT; Kim Guymon of Highland, UT; along with 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Through marriage with Virgie, he has enjoyed an additional 17 grandchildren and 65 great grandchildren, who adored him. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Dema, three brothers, Joe, Frank, and Jimmy and oldest daughter, Ann Marie Goodell Ondricek. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 11, 2018, at the Kearney LDS 2nd Ward, 1860 Kearney Street, with Bishop Bret Memmott officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road and Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be Monday, August 13th at 12 Noon in the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi, Utah.

Funeral Services will be held