Rexalee Ann Goecker

Rexalee Ann Goecker died peacefully on July 23, 2024, at her home on Dauphin Island, Alabama surrounded by friends and family. Just shy of her 83rd birthday, Rexalee was born on August 21, 1941, to Rexford and Eugenie Angeline Westhauser in West Branch, Michigan. The middle of three kids, she enjoyed a wonderful childhood in the 40s and 50s on the banks of Lake Michigan at the old family homestead near the railroad tracks. The Westhauser family was full of laughs and shenanigans, spending time helping at the plant nursery and family farm. She graduated from New Troy High School, then attended Alma College, where she majored in teaching. Rexalee met James William Goecker during this time, while he was attending Central Michigan University. They married on June 8, 1963, and both worked on their Master’s Degrees in Teaching at Western Michigan University. They settled in Portage, Michigan on Austin Lake. Woodhams Avenue would be their home for the next 47 years, where wonderful memories were made swimming, boating, fishing, and enjoying Austin Lake sunsets and neighbors. After a series of heart-breaking miscarriages, they adopted William James in 1968 and Rexene Kay in 1971. Margene Ellen (Meg) was born in 1978 and was a welcomed addition to the family.

 As a stay-at-home mom and then preschool teacher for 20 years, Rexalee has touched an uncountable number of children’s lives, while keeping her busy household together. Rexalee was always active in her community, volunteering for any committee or group that she believed in. She never missed her children’s sporting events, dance events, or any activity, and dedicated her creativity and kindness to numerous boy scout and girl scout outings and travel. After retirement in 2001, Rexalee and Jim built their dream home on Austin Lake, enjoying sunsets, pontoon boat rides, and their beloved neighbor friends. She was always ready for any adventure and travel, including shark cage diving in Australia, deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, rodeos in Las Vagas, exploring the Galapagos Islands, climbing to Machu Picchu, and rafting trips down the Colorado River.

In 2015, the Goecker’s left their beloved Michigan to move to Alabama to be near their grandchildren, where she put her full energy into her love of being a grandmother. She was the life of the party with her wit, sarcasm, and strong presence. She spent the last years of her life enjoying the views of the Dauphin Island Bridge, helping to raise her grandchildren, and volunteering right up to the end for the Dauphin Island Medical Clinic. Her life is an example of how to live and love with humor, kindness for others, and dedication to community and family. 

Rexalee was preceded in death by parents (Rexford and Eugenie Westhauser), brother (William Eugene Westhauser), sister (Sue Ellen Westhauser), husband (James William Goecker), and son (William James Goecker). She is survived by her daughters Meg Goecker (Rob Hansen) and Rexene Wood, and five granddaughters, Hannah Grace, Angeline Hope, and Molly Elise Wood and Amelia and Meegan Hansen.

Please join us in a celebration of her life on Sunday July 28, 2024, between 1-3pm at the Dauphin Island Community Center (412 Lemoyne Drive, Dauphin Island, AL 36528). We will share memories and stories over food and drink. Please bring a dish to share. Further services will be planned in Michigan at a future date. 

In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made to the Dauphin Island Medical LLC (https://dauphinislandmedical.com/contact-us/ or Venmo @DauphinIslandMedicalLLC)--- where Rexalee spent the last years of her life volunteering so the Island Community could have local, loving health care.