August 8, 1949 - May 7, 2024
Cornelius (Butch) Henry Goertzen passed away peacefully on the morning of May 7, 2024, at the age of 73. Butch Goertzen was born to John and Helen Goertzen on August 8, 1950 in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Butch was the youngest of five children. He grew up on Blossom Dairy Farm on Chilliwack Central Road and went to school at Robertson elementary, Rosedale Junior high, and then Chilliwack Senior high.
At nineteen years old, Butch knew that he wanted to be a farmer and purchased a 25-acre dairy farm, Sundance Farms, across the road from his parents on Chilliwack Central Road. He married Renata Krahn, at Eden Mennonite Church on April 11, 1975. They were blessed with three children: Trevor Wade (1976), Chad Allen (1978), and Haley Jolene (1982).
As the family grew, so did the farm. A new house was constructed just after the birth of Trevor and new buildings were added to the farm on a regular basis. Butch also expanded the farm interests into the hog market and in 1986, he sold his dairy quota and focused his efforts solely on hogs.
Butch loved the outdoors. Fishing, hunting, dirt-bike racing, ATVing, horseback riding, and camping have always been part of his life.
Beyond swine and dairy, Butch also loved many different types of animals. Over the years, ducks, sheep, chickens, goats, beef, emu, reindeer, bison, koi, and horses (both saddle and race) were all part of life at Sundance Farms.
Butch loved his wife, children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren very much. For the past 20 years, it has been family tradition that the Goertzens all met, once a week, to share a family meal under Butch and Renata's roof.
Butch will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 49 years, Renata; children, Trevor (Tanya), Chad (Angela), Haley (Paul) Berger, and his nine grandchildren; Bailor, Boston, Beckett, Maddison, Adriel, Westin, Yale, Rocky and Simon.
Butch will also be missed by his surviving siblings, Marian Martens and Vic Goertzen.
He was predeceased by his parents and siblings: Walter (1943) and Jack (1993).
Butch's Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, May 21st, 2024, 1:30 pm at the Chilliwack Alliance Church. All are welcome.
Service Details
1:30 PM