Ivan R. Good, 87, passed away peacefully at Fairmount Homes Friday, Jan. 3, following a long illness.
He and his wife, Dottie, moved to a cottage with a beautiful view of Ivan's beloved farm country at Fairmount Homes in 1998.
Ivan was born in Brecknock Township on Sept. 26, 1926 to Solomon & Mary Good. He grew up on a dairy farm. He began his career as a foundry pattern maker as an apprentice to Henry Gehman in Terre Hill. He was then employed at Sperry New Holland until his retirement in 1984. In 1974, he and his wife moved to Belleville, where he was in charge of developing a new pattern shop for Sperry New Holland, and where he was the foreman until his retirement.
Outside his work, Ivan was a skilled craftsman and woodworker. He transformed the home in New Holland where he raised his family, and throughout his life created many beautiful gifts that his family continues to treasure today.
He also received a Red Rose Award for his donation to Global Aid Network (GAiN) of a beautiful cherry jewelry box that he made. (GAiN is the relief and development arm of Campus Crusade for Christ for which he and his wife volunteered for many years.)
Ivan made many heart-shaped boxes which he gave to family and friends and was particularly proud of the fact that the boxes found their way to 16 different countries.
He was also proud of his work as an assistant Scout Master of Troop 137 in New Holland, where he headed up the construction of canoes and totem poles in his basement and back yard.
Ivan was very curious by nature, and enjoyed learning facts and statistics about every place he visited. He enjoyed meeting people, and one of his first questions was always, "Where are you a native of?" Not only did he enjoy learning all this information, but he remembered it, too.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, a brother, and his wife, Dorothy M. (Martin) Good, with whom he shared nearly 62 years of marriage. He is also preceded in death by his eldest son and daughter-in-law, Jay R. and Jean Good.
He is survived by four children: Ellen Good of Kennett Square, married to David Leonard; Dean Good of Akron, married to Rebecca (Hess); Vaughn Good of Bird-in-Hand, married to Joyce (Miller) and Glenn Good of Chicago, Ill., married to Xiling Liu; seven grandchildren: Jared, Jacy, Martha, Mary, Rachel, David and Vivien Good; two step-grandchildren: Jessica Corrigan of Phoenixville and Christine Leonard of Washington, D.C. and six step-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Ephrata Church of the Nazarene, 110 Durlach Road, Ephrata, Jan. 12. Visitation with the family will be at 3 p.m., followed by the service at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in his name to Global Aid Network (GAiN), 1506 Quarry Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552.
To offer your condolences, visit gravenorhomeforfunerals.com.