Iona Leah Goodger died January 17, 2021 at the age of 98 having lived a long and productive life.
She was born in Escanaba, Michigan on July 25, 1922, the 17th of 20 children. Her brothers arranged for her to complete the 7th and 8th grades at home as she needed to take care of her younger siblings until they all went to school. They had a large farm. The girls milked while the boys did the other farm work. She completed high school and took some classes at the University of Kansas. Ms. Goodger came to Concordia, Kansas to follow her three older sisters who were nuns. She worked in the convent hospital until she took a physical in preparation for her final vows. A medical condition prevented her entering The Sisters of Charity. She spent 2 years in bed at the convent. She was a lifelong devote catholic and participated in the Assumption Church Ladies of Auxiliary. She moved to Lawrence and worked at Bell Telephone. Her younger sister Regina joined her also employed with the telephone company. She met her husband Gilbert Willis Goodger, a veteran. in 1946. They married 2 years later and moved to Topeka. He predeceased her in 1994. She retired from the telephone company in 1973. She stayed home 6 months then got a job sewing drapes at Topeka State Hospital where she worked 13 years. She and Gilbert sold their house in Topeka moving to Tecumseh where they owned a farm and raised cattle.
She has four children: Gilbert H. Goodger and Roseanna Finch, who preceded her in death; Willis Goodger (Bonita) and Rita Darnall survive. She has seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Hobbies included crocheting and bingo. In 2011 she moved to Rossville Healthcare.
Services will be held Monday, February 1, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 227 SW Van Buren, Topeka, with internment to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 801 SW Westchester Road.
