Arthur Jesse Goodwin, 84, Hastings

    Arthur Jesse Goodwin, age 84, of Hastings, died at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha on July 27, 2009. Graveside services were held Thursday, July 30, 2009, at Tarkio Home Cemetery in Tarkio, Mo. Officiating was Pastor Kenneth Ring of Living Faith Church of the Nazarene, Ralston, Neb.

    One of four children of James Thomas and Alma Edith (Fisher) Goodwin, he was born on Feb. 1, 1925, in Clarinda.  He grew up and attended school through the sixth grade in Villisca. He worked as a farm laborer near Villisca and Red Oak, and Tarkio and Fairfax in Missouri.

    He married Jeanne Kathleen Hill of Tarkio on March 6, 1944, in Red Oak. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Judith Ann, Sandra Kay, Janet Sue, Karen Louise and Dale Wayne. The family moved to King Lake, Neb., where Mr. Goodwin worked as a welder and foreman at Freuhauf Trailer Manufacturing Company. In 1960, they moved to Hastings, and he retired in 1983.

    He was a member of the Hastings Volunteer Fire Department since 1960 and served as mayor of Hastings for many years.  He loved gardening, camping and fishing, and enjoyed working on anything, especially vehicles.

    Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin were married 53 years when she died on July 15, 1997, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He continued to live in their home in Hastings.

    He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Jeanne; sisters, Doris Thuman; and Mildred McConkey. He is survived by his daughters, Judith Goodwin of Glenwood; Sandra Vance of Maryville, Mo.; Sue Courtier and husband Rod of Hastings; and Karen Mandina and husband Tom of Ralston, Neb.; son Dale Goodwin and wife Becky of Missouri; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; sister Lois Ewing of Carroll; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

    A memorial fund has been established. Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home of Malvern was in charge of arrangements.