Rene Albert Goodwin

Rene Albert Goodwin, 59, of Sioux City, formerly of Moville, Iowa, died Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Moville, with the Revs. Mark J. Stoll and Richard Ries and Monsignor Mark Duchaine officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery at Salix, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith McCulloch Chapel in Moville. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com .

Rene was born July 16, 1948, at the Methodist Hospital in Sioux City, the son of Theo A. and Corinne G. (Hubert) Goodwin. He loved being outdoors and working on his uncle and grandfather's farm. He always had a love for agriculture and working the land.

He graduated from Westwood High School in May 1966. He enlisted in the U.S. Air National Guard in December of 1966 to serve his country during the Vietnam Conflict. He served in the armed forces from December 1966 to May 1971. In 1969, he was named the outstanding airman of Phucat Air Force Base, Vietnam, out of 5,000 troops.

He married Connie L. Smith on May 31, 1969, upon his return from Vietnam. She was always his best friend and confidante, and they had a wonderful marriage. He attended some business college courses after the military, but did not reach any degree level other than his selling experience in sales of agriculture petroleum supplies in Sloan, Iowa. He operated the Standard Oil tank wagon from May 1971 to January 1976.

In 1976 his friend and colleague, Larry Etler, asked him to join him in the insurance business selling agriculture products to the farming community of Moville. He spent the next 32 years as a partner with Wayne Luse, Larry Etler and then, Pat Rogers.

He was a member of the American Legion for 40 years, past president of the Sloan Chamber of Commerce, Sloan Community Golf Course, Meadows Golf Course and the Moville Chamber of Commerce. He was a co-chair for the building of the new Immaculate Conception Church and served on the board for building the new school in Moville. He was a volunteer fireman for Salix, Sloan and Moville for more than 20 years and also served on the Professional Insurance Agents of Iowa Board of Directors for six years. He was chairman of the church financial council and served as a soloist at funerals, weddings and special occasions. Rene served as a lector in church, cantored music for the congregation, distributed communion and sang in the choir for more than 25 years.

He had an infinite love for the game of golf, but his most cherished time was with his family. He had a love for his wife, children and grandchildren, and always put them first in his life. He had balance in his life with God, family and a career that helped many people during his service to others.

Survivors include his wife, Connie Goodwin of Sioux City; a daughter and her husband, Dawn and Jim Rasmussen of Hinton, Iowa; a son and his wife, Mark and Holly Goodwin of Denver, Colo.; three grandchildren, Zach, Jake and Elizabeth Rasmussen; a sister and her husband, Deanna and Garold Smith of Salix, Iowa; a brother and his wife, Harry and Cindy Goodwin of Ankeny, Iowa; his mother-in-law, Irene Smith of Hornick, Iowa; aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Michael Goodwin; and his father-in-law, Milton Smith.