Minnesota loses a lion of a Legionnaire

PLAINVIEW — Past Department Commander William Bruno Goede died Nov. 5 at age 78 in Plainview after a courageous fight with kidney cancer.

In his final moments, his family was by his side singing  “God Bless America.”

After high school, he attended Dunwoody Institute and Brown Institute of Electronics.

Goede served a tour in Vietnam with the Army in 1966-67. His military stint was from 1965 to 1968.

In 1969, he began his work career with Pioneer Telephone Co., which eventually became Sprint Telecommunications. He retired in 2006 as field supervisor for the Plainview/Hastings area.

He was the chairman of the National American Legion National Guard & Reserve Forces Committee. He has served in many other roles at the national level.

He was the treasurer for the Department of Minnesota up until Oct. 26. He served in the role since 2018.

He was department commander 2001-02, department vice commander 1990-91, 1st District commander 1985-86 and department membership director 1996-97.

Goede served many positions in his Legion career at the 1st District level and with Plainview Post 179.

He also was a member of Sons of The American Legion, ANAVICUS, 40&8, VFW, the Royal Canadian Legion and Lions International.

He was a past president of the Plainview Lions Club and active at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

He was a Plainview City Council member from 2010 to 2014 and mayor from 2014 to 2016.

Goede served 23 years on the Plainview Fire Department, with five years as chief.

He served on the Minnesota Gambling Control Board from 2004 to 2020, serving as chairman during part of his tenure.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marie, and their three grown children, Brett, Tara and Darcy. Click here to read his obituary.