Published on December 28, 2025 7:06 pm
Last Updated on December 29, 2025 6:22 am
Madonna Goeckner, 91 of Altamont, died at 7:09 p.m. Saturday, December 27, 2025 at her home surrounded by her family.
There will be a 10:00 a.m. Rosary followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at St. Clare Catholic Church, Altamont with Rev. Ron M. Lorilla, Rev. T. Joseph Havrilka and Rev. Jeffrey Goeckner officiating. Burial will follow at St. Clare Cemetery, Altamont. Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the church on Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the St. Clare Cemetery or the donor’s choice. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Madonna was born on Saturday, February 10, 1934 in Trowbridge, IL to Alf and Catherine (Keck) Koester. She married Freddy William Goeckner on October 8, 1955 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Effingham. Together they enjoyed over 58 years of marriage prior to his death on May 26, 2014. Prior to being married she was a telephone switchboard operator supervisor and after marriage; while raising their large family, she was well known for her baking. She was a devout member of St. Clare Catholic Church having served on the Altar Society in many capacities and as a CCD teacher and coordinator for many years. She was also a member of the Effingham CDofA (Catholic Daughters of America).
She is survived by her sons, Kenneth (Cheryl) of Altamont, Dennis (Kristie) of Altamont, Curt (Theresa) of Dieterich, and Dean (Sharon) of Altamont; her daughters, Jeanne (Lloyd) Dasenbrock of Sigel, Margie (Dave) Meyer of Teutopolis, Judy (Steve) McClellan of Sigel, Rosa (Randy) Milleville of Altamont, Karen (Jim) Littleford of Charleston, Vicki (Michael) Conner of Altamont, Peggy (Scott) Bueker of Sigel, and Joyce (Chris) Guse of Mason; brother, Thomas F. Koester of Grantsville, Utah; sister-in-law, Betty Koester of Effingham; 51 grandchildren and 86 great grandchildren.
Madonna was preceded in death by: her husband; brothers, Cletus Koester, Raymond Koester, Adolph Koester, Bernard Koester and Leonard Koester, in infancy; sister, Rita (Gerald) Brumleve and Alice (Richard) Malcom; grandson, Benjamin Michael Conner; great granddaughter, Laney Jo Niebrugge.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.giesekingfh