Roger Goulson

Roger Wallace Goulson passed away from this life January 18, 2024. Roger was born September 21, 1927, on the family farm in Swift County, Minnesota to Adolph and Hannah Goulson. He is the youngest of 10 children. Roger grew up during the depression and while poor monetarily, the family was rich in love. He often told stories of his childhood: walking to the country school, playing hockey on the frozen river in the winter, wading that river in the summer to get to his buddy Gordy’s house, working on his uncle Sievert’s farm. He thought his uncle Sievert was the funniest man he ever met but he was never intentionally trying to be funny. When Roger was 16, he spent the summer helping the war effort by working at an airplane factory in Chicago, living with his sister Alvina and her husband Phillip. He graduated from Milan High School in Milan, Minnesota and spent one semester at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa before enlisting in the Army. He completed his service stateside and following his honorable discharge returned to Luther College on the GI bill. He graduated with a Business Administration degree in 1950. Roger never applied for a job in his life. All his employment opportunities came seeking him. The first was an offer to teach at Beaver Creek High School in Beaver Creek, Minnesota where he taught for 2 years and coached football. The second was a call to offer him a position to teach business classes at Decorah High School in Decorah, IA where he taught for 5 years. And the third was an offer from Carleton Baker to come apprentice for him one summer at the Winneshiek Title and Abstract Company to see how he would like it. The summer worked out so well Carleton offered him a full-time position, which led to a partnership, which lead to Roger buying out the business when Carleton retired. His son Mark and grandsons Ben, Rolf and Tom have carried on the family business. Roger met his wife Jeane at a dance in Montevideo, Minnesota. They were married February 4th, 1951, and had a loving marriage for 69 years. They were blessed with 2 children, Mark, born December 22, 1952, and Karen, born January 17, 1957. Roger was an avid golfer and was a decade-long member at Silvercrest Country Club in Decorah. He and Jeane also enjoyed many happy years square dancing and developed a wonderful group of friends who not only square danced together but went on many travel adventures together as well. Roger and Jeane were long-time members of First Lutheran Church in Decorah and Roger was an usher there for many, many years. He was still ushering into his 96th year. Preceding him in death were his mother and father, his 5 brothers, Theodore, Gerald, Rolf, Vernon, and Elken, and his 4 sisters, Clarice, Alvina, Dagny and Elna. Also preceding him was his wife Jeane and grandson John Goulson. He is survived by his son Mark Goulson (Kathy) and his daughter Karen Allen (Doug), six grandchildren, Emily Barnes, Benjamin Goulson, Rolf Goulson, Tom Goulson, Caitlin Krabbe, and Quinn Allen, and several great grandchildren. At Roger’s request there will be no funeral. A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family requests that any memorials be directed to WinnMed Hospice.