Joe A. Goff, 74, South Whitley, died at 9:57 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 at Peabody Rehabilitation, North Manchester where he was admitted on Jan. 11.

He was born Jan. 25, 1943 in Kosciusko County, a son of Dwight “Dave” and Dorothy L. (Owen) Goff. As a young boy, his family moved to South Whitley. He completed his education at South Whitley High School.

On Dec. 16, 1961 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving during the Vietnam War and Cuban Crisis. He was honorably discharged Dec. 15, 1967.

He was united in marriage to Janet L. Frederick on July 30, 1966. They made their home in Fort Wayne until 1970 when they moved to South Whitley, residing at their present home since 1972.

A Dana Corp. retiree, he retired in 1999 with 32 years of service as a world class machinist.

He was a member of First Church of God in Columbia City and South Whitley AmVets.

Surviving relatives include his wife of 51 years, Janet; two children, James Goff and Jana (Chris) Burnworth, all of South Whitley; four grandchildren, Keaton and Riley Anderson and Ashlyn and Landen Goff; a brother, Carl Goff of New Haven; and two sisters, Alyce Hackworth of Pierceton and Gayle Hull of South Whitley.

Two sisters, Joyce Loe and Donna Rose, preceded him in death.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley. The burial will be in South Whitley Cemetery with military honors presented by Whitley County Korean War Veterans Honor Guard. The visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.