Randy Goken died November 6.
You knew him as a pilot, mechanic, jumper, father, and a friend. He worked at Skidive Chicago as a pilot/mechanic, Skydive Monterey Bay, and at Aloha Airlines.
I knew him as all of the above, but mostly as a friend. Those of you who have seen him with his daughter do not need to know that he was a wonderful father.
For those of you that knew him, raise a glass and blast the Jimmy Buffett tunes.
Here's to you, Randy. I will miss him the rest of my life.
Here's is obituary:
RANDALL EDWARD 'RANDY' GOKEN
Randall Edward "Randy" Goken left the world for "blue skies" Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003, in Ottawa, Ill.
Born early on March 3, 1961, on a cold and wet late-winter morning at Rochelle Community Hospital, he was the son of Barbara J. (Druen) Goken and Edward G. Goken. Randy was always in a hurry all his life, even to be born.
Randy was baptized at St. James Catholic Church in Lee with Shirley Foster as his godmother and Casper Goken as his godfather.
Randy attended Lee Grade School and Shabbona High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1979 and served as a computer maintenance operator on AWAC planes. He received several medals and special recognition for saving a child's life in Saudi Arabia.
After his enlistment for nine years, including an assignment to Okinawa for four years, Randy served in the Air Force Reserve in Illinois.
Randy worked for several years in the aviation field while living in California. Most recently, Randy was a pilot for Aloha Air Lines and lived in Haleiwa, Hawaii.
Randy loved scuba diving and was an avid lover of anything to do with airplanes, including skydiving, flying and working on planes. He had an AP license for aircraft mechanics and was a certified FAA inspector.
Randy also was a Jimmy Buffett fan and had piloted Buffett's camera crew.
Randy has been loved and will be missed by many friends all over the world.
His beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Dakota Lindsay Goken, was always the apple of his eye - he was her "Papa" and she was his "Critter." She loved to
fly with her "Papa." Randy was recently especially close to his family, and they will miss him always.
He is survived by a daughter, Dakota, of San Leandro, Calif.; his mother, Barbara Goken of Sycamore; a brother, Tim (Melinda) Goken of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters, Susan (Ted) Plote of Malta and Cindy (Martin) Banks of Kirkland; three nephews, Joey Plote and Kale and Nick Gabel; six nieces, Amanda, Michelle and Emily Banks, Megan Plote, Angela Gabel and Amy Gallagher of England; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Goken, and his grandparents, Eilert Goken Sr. and Agnes Goken and Ervy and Helen Druen.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb, with Pastor Judy Giese officiating. Friends may call
from 9-11 a.m. Mon-day, Nov. 10, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established for Dakota Lindsay Goken in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
