Milagros "Mila" (Reyes) Goetz
Marriages
George Winslow Goetz - November 22, 1968
Maryland
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - June 18, 2017
Milagros "Mila"
Reyes Goetz
November 14, 1933 - June 9, 2017
Milagros “Mila” Reyes
Goetz, of Grand Junction,
Colorado, died peacefully
Friday, June 9, 2017,
surrounded by her family. A
recent illness took our beloved
wife, mother,
lola/grandmother, sister and
friend. She was 83.
Mila was born November 14, 1933, in Manila, Philippines.
She was the fifth child of seven born to the late Maria Chaves
and Delfin Reyes. She grew up during World War II and
survived the Japanese occupation by retreating to the family’s
coconut plantation in the Bicol region of southern Luzon. She
had relatives who survived the Bataan Death March. She would
talk of the kind American soldiers who would pass through her
town bearing gifts of candy and treats. The impression they
made stuck with her and motivated her dream to become an
American citizen.
She attended the University of the Philippines and Far Eastern
University in Manila, where she graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in accounting and commerce in 1954. Her parents made
many sacrifices for Mila and her siblings to have a college
education, which she impressed upon her own children.
She worked in human resources and accounting for private
import and export firms in the P.I. until she landed a job with the
Philippine government in 1962. She was sent to Saigon,
Vietnam, in March 1967, to work for the U.S. government as a
third-country national. It was there she met and fell in love with
a handsome, green-eyed Army Major, George Winslow Goetz.
They were married 48 years ago on November 22, 1968, in
Maryland.
Mila was a devoted homemaker, mother and Army wife. She
lived all over the world (Okinawa, Hawaii, Texas, etc.) in
support of George’s career and saw places she dreamt of as a
young girl. She visited every continent (47 countries) except
Antarctica. Her favorites were Israel, Egypt, Austria and Italy.
In October 1986, George retired from the Army after 30 years
and they chose to stay in Munich, Germany, which was his last
military assignment. They moved back stateside to Grand
Junction in March 1992 to be near family. She often said that
Grand Junction was a wonderful place to live out her years.
Aside from traveling, her hobbies included playing mahjong,
sewing, gardening, picnicking, and cooking. You could always
find Mila in the kitchen, her favorite place in the house. She
showed her love and care through her wonderful, savory dishes
and birthday cakes, which she always insisted on baking. It was
her language of love. She also enjoyed getting lost in a book and
doing the daily crossword puzzle to “keep her mind sharp.” She
never turned down a trip to Cold Stone for coffee ice cream. She
delighted in watching old WWII movies on TV. She watched
“The Longest Day” and “Midway” each time like it was the
first. All of her pastimes paled in comparison to spending time
with and cooking for her grandchildren. She was the greatest
advice giver — always pragmatic, always sensible, always
imploring us to “be positive.” We will miss her.
Survivors include her husband, Col. George W. Goetz (Ret.);
her son, James E. (Annelle) Goetz; her daughters, Patricia A.
Goetz, Susan E. Goetz, Tracy R. (Jeremy) Dvorak Marshall, and
Sonya R. Goetz; 10 grandchildren, Katherine, Michael, Nicole,
Elizabeth, Emily, Allison, Miranda, Matthew, Ainsley and
Aidan; and five great-grandchildren with two on the way. She is
also survived by two sisters, Salud “Ding” Salalac and Purita
(Ben) Panlilio, as well as scores of nieces and nephews, whom
she adored. Each one claimed her as their “favorite auntie.”
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by son
Gordon W. Goetz, and brothers, Alfredo, Jose, Henry and
Roberto.
A memorial Mass is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday, June 22,
2017, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 790 26 ½
Road, in Grand Junction. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to Grand Valley Catholic Outreach,
302 Pitkin Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81501.