Alan T. Goodhew

Alan Goodhew, 88, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2011, at the Kavanagh House in Des Moines, Iowa. Services will be held at 10 am, Monday, June 20, 2011, at Martensdale Community Church, 3953 Hoover Street, Martensdale, Iowa. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Luncheon will follow at the Martensdale Community Church.

Alan Thomas Goodhew was born March 6, 1923, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The second child of May and Thomas Goodhew, Alan attended Yeronga State School and had a classmate, Kath Wheatley - the sister of his future wife, Edna!

During World War II, Alan enlisted in the Australian Army, serving with the medical corps. He was stationed in the Pacific, mainly on Thursday Island, in the Whitsunday Passage. Often he would relate how he admired the way the island natives swiftly climbed the abundant coconut trees -- a snap, he thought - until he tried it!

After the war, Alan worked at Cadbury Chocolates, where his addiction to chocolate started and continued. But life soon changed when he met and married Edna Ortale and her five American children! They settled in the Brisbane suburb of Yeronga. The following years were all recorded by Alan as he had purchased a new Super 8 camera. He took it everywhere - to church, picnics and camping trips, to work, and family trips to the beach.

In the early 70s, life again took a new direction when Alan and the family joined the Annerly Baptist Church. The youth group was revitalized by the love and energy of "Mr & Mrs G" as they were fondly called. Many a Sunday night was spent at their home in Yeronga in celebration of the Lord.

In 1977, Alan and Edna immigrated to the U.S. to rejoin Edna's children in Des Moines, and a large extended family who fondly christened him their own “Crocodile Dundee”. Alan worked until his retirement, but never one to sit idle, became a self-employed handyman. He was always willing to help anyone, no matter how small the job.

Retirement also meant more tasks were added to his "honey do" list, but he always took the time to go fishing with his son-in-law Jim, trips to Houston to escape the winter months, and visiting his Grandchildren's schools to talk about Australia. He also enjoyed learning “hand and foot,” a new card game which led to many good-natured competitions among several couples they had met at the Martensdale Community Church -- any night for a card game would do! Alan also loved arts and crafts, and searched for the colored plastic coverings found on copper wire which he used to create unique pieces of art.

As creative and energetic as Alan was, his love of the Lord guided Alan and Edna to a new spiritual home at Martensdale Community Church. He will continue to inspire his children and grandchildren for many years to come.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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