Gordon Hartwell Goepferd

Gordon Hartwell Goepferd, age 91, a resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota formerly Pelican Rapids and Detroit Lakes, died Monday, November 7, 2011, at Broen Memorial Home, Fergus Falls, Minnesota.Gordon Goepferd was born April 7, 1920 at home in Bartlett Township, Todd County, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Mabel (Holm) Goepferd. He went to country schools, then to high school in Verndale, Minnesota graduating in l938. Gordon took teacher's training at St. Cloud State, then taught country school for two years. While in high school and college, he played baseball, basketball and football. In June, l942 he entered military service as a member of the Army Air Corps, serving in North Africa. He was honorably discharged on Christmas Day, l945.On June 12, l946, Gordon was united in marriage to Jean Pettersen. To this union five children were born. Gordon and Jean lived in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, for 22 years. He worked for Northern Pacific Railroad as a railroad warehouse clerk. While in Detroit Lakes Gordon was instrumental in the building of the present Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes. He and his brothers built a new home for their mother in seven long weekends.Gordon enjoyed hunting and fishing with good friends. Pitching softball was a pastime he enjoyed, and winning the Detroit Lakes Invitational Tournament was the highlight of his pitching career. In one of the games he pitched a no-hitter.In l969, after being laid off from the railroad, they bought the Wash-Inn Laundromat and moved to Fergus Falls. Gordon was called back to work for AMTRAC in Detroit Lakes, while Jean was teaching in Pelican Rapids, so they moved to Pelican Rapids in l974 where the two of them built their own home. Jean died August 23, l992. Gordon began working as a funeral assistant at Larson Funeral Home in the early l980's until he moved to Fergus Falls in 1997 to be near his children. In later years he enjoyed watching sports and spending time at the lake cabin.He was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church and the Senior Citizens of Fergus Falls, Minnesota.Gordon is survived by his five children: Ivan Goepferd, Cameron, MT, Karla (Rick) Johnson, Fergus Falls, MN, Meredith (Dan) Weiby, Oakes, ND, Heidi (Reggie) Schwartz, Dent, MN, Collin (Linda) Goepferd, Fergus Falls, MN; seven grandchildren: Andrea Johnson Zachary, Richfield, MN, April Johnson, Moorhead, MN, Denise (Scott) Weiby German, Oakes, ND, Karl Weiby, Rock Springs, WY, Jessie Englund Eastwood, Fergus Falls, MN, Aaron (Cristie) Goepferd, Fergus Falls, MN, Kate Goepferd, Oakland, CA; ten great-grandchildren: Brianne Zachary, Hunter, Ethan, Mason and Karsen German, Madeline, Macey and Lincoln Eastwood, Hope and Gavin Goepferd; brothers: Harold (Marge) Goepferd, Bertha, MN, Raymond Goepferd, Henning, MN; many nieces, nephews and friends.He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, his parents and granddaughter Lara Beth Goepferd Morris. Funeral Home:Larson Funeral Home304 3rd Street S.E.Pelican Rapids, MNUS 56572