Obituary of Thomas Jenk Goen

Thomas “EZ” Jenk Goen, 61, of Dyersville passed away peacefully Sunday, August 13, 2023, at MercyOne in Dubuque.

Tom was born on October 10, 1961, in Anamosa, Iowa, the son of John and Jeanne (Jenk) Goen.  Tom graduated from the University of Iowa in 1986 with his degree in Communications. He married Brenda Bremhorst in 1986, and to this union two beautiful daughters were born. 

Tom started his career as a sales manager, working his way up to later excel as a senior sales manager supervising hundreds of associates at MCI Worldcom. His career took him from Iowa to Kansas, Missouri, Maryland and Illinois during his 14 years with the company. He earned many travel opportunities during his time there including London, Hawaii, Bermuda, and many others. 

In his next chapter of life, Tom continued to work and live in Belvidere, IL, running his small-town business EZ Goen Bar & Grill for a few years before an escalating autoimmune condition left him unable to work.  In 2008 he returned to Dyersville to live with his mother and spend the remainder of his life.

Tom was known for his outgoing personality and had a passion for gardening, cooking, and traveling. Tom traveled all 48 land-locked states on a Harley motorcycle in 2010 and again in 2011 in order to spread awareness to those losing hope and promote his self-proclaimed acronym PURPAL: People United Relieving Painful American Lives.  During this time, he created footage for a documentary with filmmaker Joe Scherrman, all which revolved around his love for the Field of Dreams. Tom was heavily involved with the National Psoriasis Foundation and earned an Innovator Award for his work in 2015. His proudest accomplishment, however, was being a father of two successful daughters who both miss him dearly.

As Tom would say, PLJ.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Field of Dreams Movie Site from 2 – 6 pm on Saturday, October 7th for all to attend in tie dye fashion as EZ would want. Please come dressed in your best TIE-DYE OR CUBS SHIRT. https://www.facebook.com/events/1035403090817461

Survivors include his two daughters, Brianna (Nick Lo Vetere) Goen of Chicago, IL, Miranda (Chance Lisik) Goen of Tampa, FL, mother, Jeanne Goen of Dyersville, siblings: Susan Goen of Dyersville, Don Goen of Appleton, WI, John (Robin) Goen of Carefree, AZ., Sally (Kevin) Knepper of Farley, Margaret (Alan) Loeffelholz, of Granger, IN, Timothy (May) Goen of Thompson Falls, MT and Martha Boll of Costa Mesa, CA. 

He was preceded in death by his father, John J. Goen in 2002, and his dogs, Freedom and Little Buddy.

Memorials may be made in Tom’s name to the National Psoriasis Foundation (https://www.psoriasis.org/donate/?form=donate).

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family and information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.  Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12^th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA 52040.