Jerry F. Goddard

Jerry Frank Goddard of Loveland, Colorado and San Felipe, Mexico passed away on Saturday, February 29 th, 2020 at The HiIlcrest of Loveland. He was 80 years old. Jerry was born in Imperial (Chase County), Nebraska on July 4 th, 1939 to Russell Jefferson Goddard and Ruth Irene (Skewes) Goddard and was brought home to his loving sister Bonnie "Jean” (Goddard) Newman. He was raised on a farm which is where his strong and dependable work ethic was born. He worked hard out in the fields, caring for animals, and attending to the many tasks that are part of farm life. He discovered his love of music and was able to perform in school, in the community, and in his church for the rest of his life. When he was in second grade he met and began a friendship with his future wife Carol while they were attending church camp in the Colorado mountains. He graduated from Chase County High School in 1958 and went to Graceland (College) University in Lamoni, IA for two years and continued his education at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He married Carol Louise (Gunderson) Goddard on June 4, 1961 in Denver. The newlyweds then moved to Yellowstone Park, WY where Jerry served as a park ranger for the summer. At the end of the summer, they moved back to Greeley where Jerry finished his undergraduate education at UNC. While at UNC, he served as the Drum Major for the "Pride of the Rockies” Marching Band and worked at JC Penney in Greeley. He graduated in 1962 with Bachelors of Arts in business education and a minor in music education. Upon graduation the couple moved back to Yellowstone for the summer to continue his work with the park service. The couple were blessed with a daughter, Caren Renee (Goddard) Haining in August of 1962 and then moved to McCook, NE for Jerry to begin his employment as a Business teacher at McCook High School. The couple moved back and forth to McCook and Yellowstone for a total of five years so Jerry could "moonlight” as a park ranger to help augment his teacher’s salary. During this time frame, beloved son John Russell Goddard was born in September of 1964 in McCook. In the fall of 1967 the family settled in Loveland, CO where Jerry taught business classes at Loveland High School. Jerry then worked for the Colorado State Board of Occupational Education and Community Colleges in Denver for three years. He also achieved a Master’s degree in post-secondary business education at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He finished the last 28 years of his 38 year career at Aims Community College in Greeley, CO. While at Aims, Jerry first served as the department chair of the business education division for a few years but was then able pursue his first love of teaching full time. He taught countless subjects of business classes where he touched the lives and careers of thousands of Aims students throughout the Northern Colorado region. While at Aims, he was awarded the National Business Education Association’s "Postsecondary Teacher of the Year” among many other awards and distinctions. He retired from Aims in May of 2000. Throughout their marriage, Jerry and Carol were active travelers where they met their goals of going to all 50 states by the time they turned 50 and traveling to all seven continents by the time they turned 70. As teachers they were afforded opportunities to attend state and national conferences in the summer as part of Jerry’s sponsorship and leadership roles with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Phi Beta Lambda (PBL). During this time Jerry also served as the president of the national board of directors for FBLA/PBL. In the last 20 years, the couple has resided in San Felipe, Mexico during the cooler months of the year and in Loveland during the summer. Jerry loved his family and was proud of his heritage and the lessons he learned throughout his life. He was an excellent carpenter who coordinated the building of their Loveland and San Felipe homes, and designed and built the mountain cabin that the couple owns in Pingree Park. He enjoyed sharing his talent as a carpenter with his friends and family while assisting them with their projects. He took great delight in attending all of his children and grandchildren’s activities, games, and programs. He served in the Priesthood at his church and was a summer camp director and counselor, and sang in the choir during his many years of service to the church. Jerry learned how to quilt at a young age and completed hundreds of quilt projects for friends and family. He taught various quilting techniques at Aims, in quilt shops, and at quilt conventions and conferences. He was a member of several quilt guilds in Colorado, Nebraska, and in Mexico. Jerry is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Caren Renee & son-in-law David Scott Haining of Greeley, son John Russell Goddard of Loveland, grandsons Joshua Russell Goddard of Loveland, David "Scott” Haining II of Greeley, granddaughters Nicole Raquel Goddard of Aurora, and Amy Renee Haining of Seattle, WA, sister Jean (Goddard) & bother-in-law Jan Newman, as well as 29 cousins, 36 nephews & nieces and 45 great nephews & nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents Frank & Silvia (Sales) Goddard and Roy & Minnie (Cannon) Skewes. The Celebration of Life has been postponed and will be scheduled for a later date. Further information will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages all who are moved to do so to please donate in Jerry's name to a charity of their choice. Services at a later date First Christian Church 2000 N Lincoln Ave, Loveland, CO 80538