WaKeeney resident Virgil J. “Jim” Goetz passed away Saturday, October 15, 2016, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care, WaKeeney. He was born April 18, 1931, in Park, Kansas, to Helen N. (Gallagher) Brungardt and Edmond Cecile Goetz.

Jim attended Park schools. On August 12, 1952, Jim was united in marriage to Mary Lou Berens at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Collyer. Jim was very active with the Eagles having been a charter member of F.O.E. #3774. He held numerous F.O.E. offices at the local and state levels. Jim was a U.S. Army veteran having served in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954 achieving the rank of Sergeant. He was a member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion. Jim was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. Jim worked several jobs during his life but was best known as the local “Milkman” having worked in WaKeeney for the LK Dairy out of Hays, Kansas for many years.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Mary Lou Goetz; sisters Helen Maxine Leiker and Marlene Fahey; brothers George Edmond “Bud” Goetz and Charles Robert Goetz and great grandson Desmond Padraic Sams. Survivors include two children, Diana L. (Leiker) and husband Edward J. McCarthy, of Milton, Florida, and Leon E. Leiker and wife Debbie of Prosper, TX; five grandchildren, Eric Sams, Angela Sams, Anthony Sams and wife Katlyn, Chad Leiker and wife Kelly, and Joel Leiker and wife Lindsey; eight great-grandchildren, Aubrey Sams, Kaitlynn Roll, Kalex Lundgrin, Kamille Kirk, Lauren Leiker, Jacob Leiker, Noah Leiker, and Chase Leiker and one great-great grandchild Annabelle Ferris; and brothers Bill Goetz of Oakley and Gary Goetz of Wakeeney; sisters Delores Deines and Elsie Bittel, both of Wakeeney, and Patsy Radcliffe of Kenton, Ohio.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney. Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney.

Visitation will be Tuesday, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 p.m. Both will be held at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial contributions are suggested to Robert D. Hansen Diabetes Fund, Christ the King Catholic Church or Trego Hospital Endowment Fund for use at the Long Term Care. Checks made to the organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family by signing the guest book online at www.schmittfuneral.com.