Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018 from the Church of Sacred Heart in Franklin with burial in the St. Patrick’s Birch Coulee Cemetery, rural Franklin. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, with a Parish Prayer Service at 7 p.m., all at the Nelson-Hillestad Funeral Home in Redwood Falls. Visitation will continue from 9:30 a.m. until the time of mass at the church in Franklin on Wednesday.

Arrangements are with Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.

This is Alice’s story, in her own words:

I was born on June 28th, 1945 in Redwood Falls to my parents Theodore and Sophie (Wohnoutka) Wertish in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. I attended grade school at a country school near Bechyn. I graduated from Danube High School in 1963 and St. Mary’s School of Nursing 1966. On November 30th, 1968 I married my best friend and husband of 49 years, John Goelz.

God has blessed me and my husband with three children, Lisa (deceased), Larry and Louise, and three grandchildren — Brooklyn, Kaitlyn and Jack. I have three wonderful sisters and brothers-in-law Anita (Bion) McNulty, Mary Ann (Lowell) Jorgensen, and Susan (Dave) Lindquist, a daughter-in-law, Lori (Hanna) Goelz, and a brother and sister-in-law Francis and Ann Goelz.

I enjoyed a career of nursing for 43 years, 40 of which were at the Redwood Area Hospital, delivering and rocking babies, sometimes the second generation. Caring and compassion for the sick or in need was a calling for my life and I was able to help others for most of my life.

Community involvement has been a passion in my life. After the death of our daughter Lisa, John and I started a chapter of the Compassionate Friends in the Redwood Falls area, a support group for parents that have lost a child. I enjoyed community organizations including the civic club and Council of Catholic Women. Serving with these organizations and also as church historian, 4-H leader and others have filled my spare time with many tasks and meetings which I have always enjoyed. But most important it gave me an excuse to spend time with my friends.

My Czech heritage was important to me. In my younger days I could speak and read Czech, after many years I have lost this ability but I could still bake great Kolaches.

Helping John with his auction business has always added color and humor to my life. Answering the phone, mailing auction bills, keeping John organized and screening his humor have been a needed role for our marriage team.

My husband and I enjoyed traveling. This included trips out West and to Australia, New Zealand, Czech Republic and Guatemala. In Guatemala we didn’t expect the record setting earthquake to be part of the trip. Sometimes that is what makes life exciting.

Watching my grandchildren and attending their activities has brought great joy in my retirement years. I was always there with a camera, although as you age it gets more difficult to click at the right time to get the perfect action picture. I wish I could have had a few more years to see it all.

I wish God’s blessing on each and every one of you who have helped me on this exciting journey in life!

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