Joseph Victor Goeller

Joseph (Joe) Victor Goeller, a life-long Hoosier, passed away on January 12, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is survived by his sister, Patricia Ann Leslie of Mishawaka; brother, James Vincent Goeller of Hunting town, Maryland; cousin, Marie Ann (Joseph) Burt of Granger, Indiana; friend, Mary Frances Burt of Indianapolis, and his cousin, Sara Ellen Brown of Portland, Oregon.

Joe was born in Mishawaka, son of the late Vincent Leo Goeller and Hilda (Guthmiller) Goeller. He was a 1958 graduate of Mishawaka High School, receiving an AB Degree in 1963 from Indiana University in Bloomington. He was initiated on IU campus in Chi Phi Fraternity, then elected President in 1972 of the Indiana Chi Phi Alumni Association (ICPAA), a position which he held for many years.

Following his officer commission at Fort Benning, GA, in April 1965 plus eight years of Active and Reserve Duty, he became a US Army Captain. He attended Fort Riley KS; Fort Benning; GA; visited Fort Polk, LA and Fort McHenry in Baltimore; attended Army Intelligence School, Fort Holabird, MD; Fort Leonard Wood, MS; meetings at Camp Atterbury in Indiana., and S1 Staff Officer 70th Div - Indianapolis.

After Active Duty, Joe moved to Indianapolis for employment with Allstate Insurance Company, leading to a 37-year career as Claim Security Analyst, reporting in later years to its Home Office in Northbrook, Illinois. During this time, he exhibited skills in auditing, statistical analyses, personnel interviews, taking recorded and signed statements, and computer security. Joe developed and coordinated Claim Disaster Preparedness programs for eleven offices in Indiana and Illinois, plus travelled to them on regular basis.

With Company streamlining in 1990's, he began flying to 15 southern offices, with four in New Orleans.

In his spare time, Joe was elected as a Precinct (Voting Center) Committeeman (Person), enthusiastically working in Marion County polls for many years, beginning in the early 1980's. In addition, he served as President of Fairfields-Sylvan Neighborhood Association of close to 500 households from 2008 onward.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the 2:00pm funeral service and military honors on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Wells and Cruz Family Funeral Home, 503 W. Third St., Mishawaka, IN, with service following at 2:00pm.

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