Gene Arlie Goering Senior was born March 2, 1935 to Christian and Maria (Kaufman) Goering in Moundridge, Kansas, and passed away Friday, November 25, 2016, in his Hudson, MI home. He was the youngest of six children, growing up on a combination crops/dairy farm. Attended Eden Mennonite Church and Moundridge Elementary, Intermediate, and High School where he graduated in 1953. Upon graduation from high school, Gene headed to East Lansing for a term of 1-W service, where he worked in the dairy processing plant. He took full advantage of the ice cream section where he often enjoyed large ice cream cones. His favorite was butter pecan, which he enjoyed until the day he died! He spent two years in voluntary service and while there he met Janet Reinbolt on blind date. They dated for six months and were engaged for a year. They married on June 26, 1955 at Eden Mennonite Church. Gene and Janet lived on the Goering farm and attended Bethel College for the next year before moving to Avon Lake to farm and milk cows. Then in 1957, they bought the Pleasant Valley Farm at 12320 Yost Road Hudson, MI. He began his own work of dairy and crop farming. In 1958 they built a milk house and began shipping grade A milk. His life was full with raising a family, farming, and church. They became Mennonite Youth Fellowship sponsors for Salem Mennonite Church. Throughout their lives, Gene and Janet went on to teach Sunday School and Marriage Enrichment classes for a number of the area Mennonite Churches. Gene went back to school at Hillsdale College and graduated in 1974 with a degree in Psychology with an education emphasis. In 1974, the entire herd of milk cows was contaminated with poisoned feed and had to be destroyed. This event would change Gene's life forever. He began crop farming only until the farm could be cleaned up to specifications for raising animals again. He changed from dairy to beef farming to devote more time to the family.

Gene was on the Pittsford Township board for thirty-two years, the Hillsdale County Fair Board for twenty-five years, The Reading Emergency Services Board for Hillsdale County for five years, and the Goshen College Parents Council for five years.

He is survived by his children, Michelle (Gail) Gnagey, Gene (Karen), Jana (David) Wheeler, and Kristi Hiltbrunner. Grandchildren Lydia (Nathan) McKinsey, Elise (Nathan) Striebich, Olivia (Ethan) Schimmels, Gene III, Christian, Brandon, and Kathryn Goering, Jacob (Laura), Joel, Hannah, Luke, Rachel, Sarah, Benjamin, and Sonya Wheeler, Gabriella and Marta Grace Hiltbrunner. Great-grandchildren Kathryn Grace and Gabriel Alexander McKinsey.
His siblings, Homer (Dorothy), Harvey Stucky, and Lola Beth Ediger.

He is proceeded in death by his wife of fifty-eight years, Janet June Reinbolt, and his siblings, Delia (Vern) Graber, Olin (Ruth), Erna Stucky, and Ray Ediger.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 3, at 11AM, at Lockport Mennonite Church with Pastors Steven Heatwole and Cliff Brubaker officiating. Private interment will be in the Lockport Cemetery. Friends may call at Lockport Church from 4-8PM on Friday, December 2, 2016. Short Funeral Home in Archbold, OH has been entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial suggestions are to Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Disaster Service, Join Hands, Lockport Mennonite Aid Fund, Hillsdale County Fair, MEDA, or Hospice of Lenawee County Michigan.