Christine (Hales) Goetze

Christine Hales Goetze, age 79 passed away in her home on Saturday, June 20, 2020 with her loving husband by her side. Christine was born on December 15, 1940 to Clifton and Gertrude Evans Hales on a tobacco farm in Pikeville, NC where she was raised and attended Nahunta School. She married Fred Goetze on May 26, 1973 and he survives.

Growing up, she learned to work hard and she helped her parents raise her siblings and was considered a second mother to them. In earlier years, Christine was employed by Burlington Industries in Goldsboro, NC as a textile worker. When she and Fred married Christine went to work by his side and they farmed and ranched. They raised registered Texas Longhorn cattle and showed and sold them from New York to Texas until retiring in 2011. She and Fred were charter lifetime members of the International Texas Longhorn Association.  Christine and her husband Fred also owned and operated Goetze Tractor & Truck, a farm and heavy equipment repair shop until they retired. She helped Fred tractor pulling and they were the Points Champion in North Carolina in 1978. Christine enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking and ceramics. She also baked and decorated wedding cakes. Christine was a member of the Nahunta Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and also participated on the competition team. After retiring, they moved to Griggsville, IL to one of the family farms. Even after retirement, she farmed with Fred; riding along in the tractors, combine and trucks.

Christine was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Goldsboro, NC where she and Fred were married and she served as treasurer. Christine has helped Lutheran Family Services in resettling Vietnamese Montagnard Refugees to North Carolina. She and Fred supported Lutheran Ministries in Haiti by hauling truck and trailer loads of food and supplies to the port in West Palm Beach, FL to be loaded on ships for aid to Haiti. Also hauling food and clothing to Miami, FL for Hurricane Andrew victims.

Christine is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Fred Goetze; brothers, Earl Hales of Pikeville, NC and Elroy Hales of Pikeville, NC; sisters, Viola Hales King of Goldsboro, NC, Sheila Mae Hales Price of Seven Springs, NC, Linda Hales Person of Goldsboro, NC and Vickie Hales Tilghman of Goldsboro, NC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifton and Gertrude Hales; and brothers, Edward Hales, Kenneth Hales and Carl Ray Hales.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 6:00 PM at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Graveside services will held on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Saint Matthews Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brussels, IL. Memorials are suggested to be made to Lutheran Hour Ministries. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

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