Marcia Kaye (Hiebert) Goentzel, 76, of Valley Center, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, finally succumbing to an infection after having won the battle with so many over her years. She was surrounded by loving family and friends.
Marcia was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 9, 1945, to Lando and Katherine (Nickel) Hiebert. She was raised with an older brother, Rolyn (Rolly), and younger sister, Ruth, in Hillsboro, Kansas. She met James Goentzel at a PTA meeting, as Marcia’s mother taught in his Lehigh school district. They were married on May 30, 1964, in Hillsboro, Kansas. They made their home in Wichita, Kansas, but travelled and lived in numerous communities from Colorado to Tennessee while Jim was building Pizza Huts. Later in life they moved to a home in Valley Center where Jim still resides. Marcia has considered Oxford Grand Assisted Living in Wichita her home for the past several years. She loved to travel, especially with Jim and her family, whether to a special spot in Kansas or to an international city, and she made the most of each opportunity even when mobility was difficult.
Marcia attended Tabor College where accounting courses came naturally. She became adept at using mainframe computers to track numbers in early positions at Garvey Grain and Love Box Company. Marcia then had a meaningful role with the Olive W. Garvey Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning. She also joined Jim in the construction business. Jim managed the jobs and Marcia developed a comprehensive job costing method to support a series of family-owned construction companies in Wichita – Custom Care Builders, Classic Builders, and Jim Goentzel Construction. With the rise of personal computers, Marcia became skilled at implementing and supporting various software systems. She established MKG Systems in 1985 to formally engage clients and later co-founded Professional Software, Inc, which won awards for support excellence. In addition, she developed a robust accounting system to support several investment companies founded with close colleagues, having names like P&F (standing for Profit & Fun). Marcia also served the construction sector as President of the Wichita Area Builders Auxiliary.
Marcia joyfully pursued many other areas of interest. An active swimmer, she served for several years as a swimming instructor with the YMCA. Later in life she proudly taught her grandchildren how to swim. As an artist, Marcia frequently created personal sketches and paintings while importantly noting the time and location for the moment of inspiration. She loved sewing and many creative arts, and she frequented fabric and crafts stores over the years in pursuit of quilting fabric, beads for jewelry-making, flowers for a new arrangement, holiday decorations to liven up a shared space, and, of course, the perfect hot glue gun. She was particularly interested in creating themed decorations and arranging flowers with showcases starting at home, expanding to model homes, and concluding at Oxford Grand Assisted Living where she was designated Decorating Diva. Later in life Marcia curated her favorite art pieces and pictures of decorated rooms with meaningful notes as to why each was special.
Marcia served in a variety of roles in her faith communities. At the First Mennonite Brethren Church (now Ridgepoint Church), where she was a member, she led memorable Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes over the years. She served on the Building Committee when the church moved from 1750 N. Gow to 8000 W. 21st. She helped to stage church dramas and incorporate dramatic readings in worship services. Bible Study Fellowship was an integral part of Marcia’s faith journey. Later in life she cherished the opportunity to regularly give sermons for the Community Church at Oxford Grand Assisted Living.
Marcia is preceded in death by her parents, Lando and Katherine Hiebert; her stepfather Aaron Becker; her brother Rolyn Hiebert; Jim’s parents Clarence and Bertha Goentzel; Jim’s brothers Quint and Howard Goentzel; and son-in-law Mark Godbold.
Those left to cherish Marcia’s memory include her husband of 58 years, Jim Goentzel; son Jarrod Goentzel and his wife Laura VanderHart; daughter Melonie Godbold; grandchildren Hallie Godbold, Ian Goentzel, Tysen Godbold, and Samuel Goentzel; sister Ruth Hiebert Dick and her husband Steve; sister-in-law Sue Hiebert, stepbrothers Wilbert and Arlowe Becker, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends.
There will be an opportunity to visit with family and friends at Ridgepoint Church (8000 W. 21st St, Wichita, KS 67205) on Sunday, June 12, from 5-7pm. The funeral/memorial service will be held at the same location on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 11am, with lunch following the service.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, Memorial donations for Marcia Goentzel can be directed to the Lando Hiebert Endowed Scholarship Fund at Tabor College, either online (https://tabor.edu/alumni-friends/give-online) or via check to the Tabor College Advancement Office (400 S Jefferson, Hillsboro, KS 67063). Simply note Marcia Goentzel Memorial with the donation.
Baker Funeral Home Valley Center is handling arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com.