John Goeman, age 86, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 at Bethel Lutheran Home.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, January 2nd at St. John Lutheran Church in Madison. Visitation will be 4-6 PM on Wednesday, January 1st at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 6 PM. Visitation will continue on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery with military honors provided by the Madison VFW, Madison American Legion and active Army National Guard. The funeral will be livestreamed on the funeral chapel Facebook page.
John A. Goeman was born September 8, 1938 northeast of Madison to John “Jack” and Adelia (Fischer) Goeman. He grew up on the family farm and attended grade school and high school at General Beadle School and attended college for two years at Dakota State University. Goeman also attended Wartburg College in Iowa and graduated with a First-Class Electronic Engineering Degree from Brown Institute of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He joined the staff of KJAM AM Radio as an Engineer/Announcer in 1959. He also briefly worked for a radio station in Sheldon, Iowa. Goeman was associated with KJAM Radio for his entire career. He became the Station Manager in 1967 and purchased the station with his wife, JoLynn, in 1975. KJAM FM was added in 1979. Early morning listeners knew the familiar voice of John Goeman giving the “First Edition” News, Weather and Sports for 40 years.
Goeman was a Veteran of nine years in the South Dakota National Guard Company B 153rd Engineering Battalion and was very active in supporting Dakota State University through “Citizens for Dakota State”. He also was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and served as Board/Church Council President for St. John’s.
He was a Board Member of the Prairie Historical Society that operates Prairie Village and was one of the early members who were instrumental in the effort to create and grow Prairie Village, west of Madison. Goeman was active as a board member for the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce and served as a fireman for 16 years with the Madison Volunteer Fire Department.
Goeman was involved as a Director for the Board of Lake View Tower, was a founding member of the Madison Development Corporation and served as President of MDC (LAIC- Lake Area Improvement Corporation). He was very active with the South Dakota Broadcaster’s Association and earned “Broadcaster of the Year” honors in 1978 from SDBA. He was elected President of that organization in 1988. The University of South Dakota and the South Dakota Broadcaster’s Association awarded John Goeman the “Tom Brokaw Award” in 1999, which honors those who have achieved excellence in broadcasting, electronic journalism and public affairs. Two of the greatest honors KJAM received were National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) “Best of the Best” Awards in 1990 and 1993 for its 30th Anniversary “1959 El Camino Giveaway” and its “Quiz Biz Junior” Program. The award was presented by President George H. W. Bush at the NAB Convention in Atlanta, GA. In 1993, the American Red Cross awarded KJAM with a “Beyond the Call” Award for relief funds that were raised following the devastating flood of 1993 in Madison.
John survived an accidental shotgun discharge to the back of his neck while hunting and riding in the back of a pickup when he was a teenager. He was hospitalized in a coma. He still had lead pellets lodged in the back of his head from that childhood accident at the time of his passing.
Goeman was an avid hunter and supporter of Conservation efforts including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Lake County Longbeards and others. The Izaak Walton League of America awarded Goeman their Conservation Award for his generous contributions to conservation projects through local Izaak Walton Chapter 16. For decades he lobbied for a 4-lane Highway 34 expansion from I-29 to Madison.
John will be deeply missed by his three children, Rod (Cheryl) Goeman, Jim (Denice) Goeman, and Kelli (Darwin) Wollmann; four grandchildren, Jordan Goeman, Jenessa Goeman, Mathew (Emily) Wollmann and Megan Wollmann; along with a nephew, Scott (Heidi) Larsen and niece, Julie (Charlie) Elking and their children. He also has many relatives on the Fischer, Langner and Minnesota Goemann side.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Goeman, his mother, Adelia (Fischer) Goeman; his sister, Janice (Goeman) Larsen and her husband, Wally Larsen and his dear wife, JoLynn (Newcomb) Goeman, who passed away in 2017, along with several uncles, aunts and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to: Bethel Home Foundation, 1001 S. Egan Avenue, Madison, SD 57042 or LAIC-Lake Area Improvement Corporation, 315 S. Egan Ave, Madison, SD 57042.