Nathan L. (Nate) Goetz, age 92, passed away on November 28, 2018 at his home in Naples, Florida. Nate was born on February 6, 1926 in Monroe, Wisconsin to Chester and Mabel Stauffacher Goetz.
During WWII, he served in the Army Air Corp. Upon leaving the military in 1945, he attended Beloit College. On November 16, 1947 he married Ruth Angliker of Monroe. They operated the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Store which later became a popular restaurant, The Swiss Colony Inn. Nathan, his brother Robert, and father Chester also operated the Goetz Movie Theaters. While in Monroe, he served on the Monroe Police and Fire commission, was a charter member and past president of the Monroe Lion's Club and board member of the Tri-County YMCA. He was also a long time member of the Monroe City Band and served on various civic and "Cheese Days" festival committees. He was a founding member of The Alpine Curling Club. Nate and Ruth relocated to Naples, Florida in 1972.
Nathan had a life time interest in amateur radio and was first licensed in 1948. He turned his hobby into a vocation, building his first radio station in 1958. He constructed and engineered several radio projects as President and CEO of Goetz Broadcasting Corporation which eventually consisted of fourteen AM and FM stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois plus a Wisconsin state radio network with 150 affiliates. He served many years as an officer and director of the Wisconsin Broadcaster's Association. He was elected to the Wisconsin Broadcasters' Association Hall of Fame in 1990. Even after retirement from Goetz Broadcasting, he continued with amateur radio obtaining an Amateur Extra Class license with a privileged 4 call letter designation K4ZH. He remained an active "ham" radio operator into his late 80's contacting many hundreds of national and international amateurs using Morse code.
Nathan enjoyed traveling, boating, fishing, tennis and golf and was a great fan of the Green Bay Packers and the University of Wisconsin Badgers. He is survived by his son, Dr. David Goetz and his wife Deborah Whitehead Goetz; two grand daughters, Heather Goetz Ruth (David) and Hayley Goetz Taylor (Shawn); four great-grandchildren, all of Greenville, SC.; and his sister-in-law, Virginia Goetz of Monroe and her five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ruth and his brother, Robert Goetz.
A family service and inurnment will be held at Moorings Park Columbarium, Naples, FL. A Celebration of Nate's life will be held in January at the Royal Poinciana Golf Club. Fuller Funeral Home, Naples, FL is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family extends their sincere appreciation to his caregivers for their wonderful care and compassion shown to "Neat Nate" and to his friends and relatives for their calls and visits.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation, 44 E Mifflin Street, Suite 900, Madison, WI 53703 or to the charity of one's choice. For online condolences, please visit www.fullernaples.com.
