Dennis Irving Goff

Goff, Dennis I. MONONA-Dennis I. Goff, age 80, died on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, surrounded by his family, after a lengthy battle with melanoma cancer. He was born on June 5, 1934, in Madison, to Irving and Ruby Goff. Dennis grew up on Madison’s East Side, Atwood Avenue area. From early childhood, he had a passion for playing and watching baseball. Dennis was one of two kids selected to play in the prominent City of Madison Industrial League while still in high school. The family has many newspaper clippings about the Industrial League, and even a couple that mention him hitting a home run over the famous Breese Stevens ivy covered wall. Dennis continued playing baseball in the army, and later, played third base and pitched for the UW-Madison. After graduating from Madison East High School in 1952, Dennis joined the U.S. Army, and completed a two year stint in 1954. While serving at Fort Huachuca Military Base near Tucson, Arizona, Dennis met a kid from Chicago, Jack Sizer, and the two became best friends for over 60 years. He returned to Madison in 1954, and married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Carlson, on Nov. 16, 1954. Dennis enrolled in school at the UW-Madison, and received a BA in Economics, and continued on to earn an MBA from the UW-Madison School of Business. After graduation, Dennis was fortunate to receive six months of training on Wall Street, in New York City. He returned to Madison, and began a 54 year career as a financial advisor. Dennis and Nancy loved attending the sports and musical events of their grandchildren, rarely missing an event, rain or shine. Dennis is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy; daughter, Debra ( Jim ) Kondrasuk; son, Mark (Jeanie ) Goff; nine grandchildren, Brett, Katie, Jenny, Aaron, Anne, Beau, Markus, Lesley, and Brooks; brother, David Goff; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Ruby Goff. The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff at Dean Health Oncology, the doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and the nurses and staff at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. Dennis will be greatly missed by his family at the football fields, baseball diamonds, and auditoriums. A memorial service will be held at ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5700 Pheasant Hill Rd, Monona, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, with the Rev. Edward Johnson presiding. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420