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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted Feb. 21, 2007 Obituary © 2007 and courtesy Erickson Crowley Funeral Home, Calumet.

Obituary: Rev. Allen Goodrich

He was born on August 15, 1948, in Kankakee, Illinois, a son of the late Charles and Evelyn (Busse) Goodrich.

He attended and graduated from the Grand Ledge High School. He also attended Lansing Community College and Michigan State University to earn a degree in teaching.

In 1971 he began teaching sociology and economics at the Rudyard School and later went on to work at Lake Superior State University’s Upward Bound program, eventually becoming director. He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1986 to attend Luther Seminary. In 1990 he became Pastor of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk and was  their Pastor until his time of death. He was instrumental in the formation of Keweenaw Lutheran Ministries, which led to the construction of Shepherd of the Sea Chapel in Copper Harbor. He was an avid guitar player and had started a class at the church, where he encouraged all to play and learn.

In his ministry at Bethany Lutheran Church and in the Copper Country Pastor Al had touched many lives through his willingness to serve in whatever capacity asked of him. He had married hundreds of couples -- not only in the church but wherever the couple requested, whether it was on Brockway Mountain, the Natural Wall or in the Still Waters Garden. He also presided over hundreds of funerals in the area, giving each and every family the care and compassion they needed. He was a genuinely loved man, wonderful pastor, loving husband, dad, friend -- and will be tremendously missed by his church and the community.

He was married to the former Lavina Lewis on Aug. 19, 1977, in Sault Ste. Marie.

Pastor Al served his country in the U.S. Army and was stationed in West Point.

He was the Hospice Chaplain at Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice and a member of the Sons of Norway.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Myra Goodrich, sister-in-law Stella (Dahl) Goodrich and a brother-in-law Pete Lentz.

Surviving are:

His Wife Lavina

Daughters: Sonnet Goodrich of Mohawk

Kirsten Goodrich at Northern Michigan University

Son: Matthew Goodrich stationed in the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

4 Sisters: Karen (Jeff) Routson of Mason, Michigan

Bonnie (Ron) Broseus of Columbus, Ohio

Donna (John) Magers of Marysville, Ohio

Sherry Lentz of Nicholls, Georgia

4 Brothers: Dan (Brenda) Goodrich of Churubusco, Indiana

C. Harlan Goodrich of Midland, Michigan

David Goodrich of Biola, Kansas

Steven (Sylvia) Goodrich of Dublin, Ohio

Numerous aunts , uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, in the Bethany Lutheran Church in Mohawk with Bishop Thomas Skrenes and Pastors Jay Schrimpf and Peter Vorhes to officiate.

Friends may call at the Erickson Crowley Funeral Home in Calumet one hour prior to the service at the church or at www.ericksoncrowley.com. 

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy the family asks memorials be directed to the Bethany Lutheran Church.

Editor's Note: Keweenaw Now wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Rev. Allen Goodrich. Although we did not know him personally, we have heard many expressions of praise for Pastor Al and his work and of sadness at the loss of a beloved community leader.