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Obituary for Dwayne "Bill" Wright
Dwayne Goochey Wright, of Menlo and Greenfield passed away April 29, 2016 at the Community Care Center in Stuart, surrounded by loved ones. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 29th at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart. A Celebration of Life service will be held 10:00 A.M. Thursday, June 30th at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart. Burial will be held in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dwayne Wright Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Dwayne Goochey Wright, of Menlo and Greenfield passed away April 29, 2016 at the Community Care Center in Stuart, surrounded by loved ones.
“Bill” as he was known to all-lived his life to the fullest. He was born on June 30, 1931, at home in Guthrie County. He was the youngest of 13 children born to Uri Land and Eva Helen (Goochey) Wright. Sisters: Ronie, Essie and Evalyn; brothers: Kenneth, Don, Charles, Dale, Leo, Dee, Paul, Allen and Milo. His parents and all his siblings proceeded him in death.
He graduated from Menlo High School in 1950. On December 30, 1950, he became a “Sailor” in the U.S. Navy 1950-1954, serving aboard the U.S.S. John R. Craig, during the Korean War. On January 8, 1953 he married Marcia Thompson. Their daughter, Michelle Diane, was born seven years later, while they were living in the Connell and Moses Lake, Washington area. They returned to Iowa and in 1962 bought the family farm, S.W. of Menlo, from his parents. This is where he still lived.
The “Big House” burned in the late 1980’s and was replaced by a ranch style in early 1990’s. On June 30, 2014, a tornado went through, taking the barn and a lot of trees were damaged, but left the house untouched. He enjoyed farming and then became an “over the road” truck driver for 40 years working for Monarch Manufacturing; Werner Enterprises; and retired from Mid-Continent Bottlers on June 30, 1996. He lived in Adel for a few years. At that time he developed a father-son relationship with Paul.
He enjoyed returning to the farm and spent many hours on the mowers to keep everything looking the way he wanted.
He did not care for coffee – but started his mornings with a “social-cup” with friends at the Menlo Café. He wouldn’t drink any at home or traveling!
After Bev retired, they went on the road again, traveling the U.S.A. He always said “Lets do it while we are able”. In his case, no truer words were ever spoken. They had just returned from two weeks in Colorado, late August, when he started having health issues. They were planning to be in Nashville, Tennessee in September (2016) for his ships reunion, then on to North Carolina, Virginia and Delaware to visit nephews, but that was not in God’s Plan. While in the Care Center, he wanted the Atlas brought in. He figured out he had been in all but four states: Connecticut; Maine; Massachusetts and Vermont. He also enjoyed Alaska, Canada and Hawaii; and in their 13 years together, he and Bev had put nearly 600,000 miles on their vehicles. “Doing what they loved”.
He is survived by his daughter, Michelle Hoeppner of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; son, Paul (Noele) of Adel. Grandchildren: William (Katie) Hoeppner of West Des Moines, McKenzie (Taylor) Phillips of Adel and Brooklyn White of Urbandale; great-granddaughter, Marlie Phillips (and new baby due soon); companion, Beverly Wright of Greenfield and her family; sister-in-law, LaVaun Wright of Stuart; many nieces and nephews, and their families who dearly loved Uncle Bill/Billy and many friends. He will be missed.
He was a member of the VFW and Menlo American Legion Post 511.
As per his wishes a few of his ashes are now a part of “The Freedom Rock” since Memorial Day, 2016. "Thank you Bubba"
