John Robert Goossens March 29, 1947 - October 10, 2011

John Goossens passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Grants Pass on October 10.

He was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands on March 29, 1947 to John and Elizabeth Goossens of Santa Barbara. The family immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York harbor by ship in April 1956. The family lived in Martinsville, Indiana, for five years and then moved to Santa Barbara, California, in July 1961.

He attended San Marcos High, graduating in 1965. Shortly after graduation John joined the Navy and was stationed in Twenty Nine Palms, California on the Marine base working as a medic in the Navy hospital.

After leaving the service he worked in a nursing home and then in private care for various people in Santa Barbara. He married Karen Hougham in Santa Barbara and they lived in Eureka, California, where John attended Humboldt University and majored in wildlife biology. After his schooling they moved to Gold Beach, where John and Karen had two sons. After his divorce from Karen he remained a constant presence in his sons' lives.

John began his Forest Service career as a seasonal firefighter for the Gold Beach Ranger District on the Siskiyou National Forest. In the late '80s John transferred to the Sisters Ranger District on the Deschutes National Forest as the district facilities manager.

During his Forest Service career he worked on the Central Oregon Type 2 Incident Management Team. Later he gained a place on the Pacific Northwest Type 1 National Incident Management Team. John's team arrived in New York City within 48 hours after the September 11 terrorist attacks to facilitate providing logistical support to Ground Zero for supplies. His team also provided ground support in the Space Shuttle disaster recovery effort in Texas and aide to victims of Hurricane Katrina along with many other major fires throughout the U.S.

During his time in Sisters Ranger District John met Kate Shilley, whom he married. Just before his retirement, he and Kate divorced. Upon retirement John bought an RV and traveled around the U.S. and Mexico "seeking the sun" and visiting with family and friends. He never met a stranger. He was a happy, loving and devoted man to both his family and those whom he met. He was also a man of integrity, truth and strength.

He leaves behind two sons, Gabriel and Brett Goossens, of Bend; parents John and Elizabeth Goossens of Santa Barbara, California; sisters Lisa Benes (Kenneth) of Alcalde, New Mexico, Ineke Worley (Regis) of Port Hueneme, California, and Yvonne Bazinet (Dave) of Santa Barbara, California; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great nieces.

An informal memorial gathering was held on October 16. Remember John by remembering firefighters everywhere.