Gerhard Goettel

Gerhard P. Goettel, 77, of Crystal Lake was born May 1, 1935 in Yugoslavia and passed away, Monday, November 5, 2012 at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, surrounded by his loving family.

Gerhard married Marianne (nee Mack) in Germany Sept. 29, 1956, and moved to the United States in 1958.

Gerhard was an avid soccer and motocross fan. He spent his youth in Germany playing on many soccer teams. When he came to the United States he fell in love with the sport of motocross and spent many weekends at the tracks with his family; racing, promoting, and selling motorcycles. With his father and two brothers, Goettel Motors was born, expanding to three dealerships in the area, specializing in import cars.

Gerhard is survived by his children Regine (Dale) Freund and Renate (Doug) Skinner; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Lauren Freund and Taylor and Douglas Skinner; and brothers, Helmut (Sonja) Goettel and Othmar (Elizabeth) Goettel.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marianne (2009) and his parents.

Visitation will be 9am until the time of the funeral service at 11am Friday, November 9 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave (Route 176), Crystal Lake. Burial in Crystal Lake Memorial Park will follow the service.

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