Benjamin Goeckel

Benjamin R. “Ben” Goeckel, 50, Linn, was involved in a fatal accident, Saturday, May 23, 2026.

A Celebration of Life will be Tuesday, June 2, from 5 – 8 p.m. at The Brewery in Washington.

A graveside funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 3, at Prospect Hill Cemetery, north of Blue Rapids.

Ben was born March 6, 1976 to Jerry Goeckel and Catherine (Riepen) Gastmann in Hanover. He attended school in Hanover and graduated from Hanover High School. He went on to attend Southeast Community College in Milford, NE earning an associate’s degree.

He worked as a welder for Bradford Built on truck beds. In his early years he worked with his grandfather Maurice and Uncle Jim on the farm. He thoroughly enjoyed being on a tractor in the field, and checking cattle. Ben was a lover of life and having a good time with his friends and family. He enjoyed 4-wheeling and jeeping.

Ben never met a stranger and was always willing to give a helping hand to anyone that needed it. He was always willing to go the extra mile helping someone who broke down or got stuck on a mud road. Ben was always out after a rain or snow, driving the back roads seeing how well his mighty Dodge would handle the roads. He enjoyed grilling and smoking on the grill he built.

On December 31, 2022, he was united in marriage to Kori Weese at the Brewery in Washington. He had a heart of gold and enjoyed evenings with his wife Kori and dog Buford, watching the sunsets and just talking about anything and everything.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents; stepmother, Connie Goeckel; nephew, Joseph Brungardt and niece Emma Brungardt.

Survivors include his wife, Kori; mother, Catherine (Tim) Gastmann, Hanover; father, Jerry Goeckel, Larned; sister, Holly (Mike) Brungardt, Blue Rapids; step siblings Michelle (Steve) Seeman and Danny (Laura) Ramey; mother and father-in-law, Robert and Wanda Weese; sister-in-law, Kim Munoz; and brother-in-law, Kyle (Maddie) Weese, all from Ohio; nieces, Elizabeth (Laurence) Grate, Heather (Josh) Mitchell, Sophie Brungardt and Anna Brungardt; nephew, William Moore; and ten great nieces and nephews.

A memorial fund is established and will be designated at a later date. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington, KS 66968.