John D. Goebel

Dr. John David Goebel was born in New York City, NY on June 18, 1923 to Arthur Claude Goebel and Mildred Adele Fajen Goebel. He moved to New City when he was very young and started school. John graduated from Congers High School where he received an award for his violin playing skills. John went on to attend Cornell University. He drove his Indian Scout motorcycle back and forth to school only crashing once on the icy back roads of Ithaca. John completed his undergraduate work and specialized in veterinary medicine. While still in school he joined the army during World War II because the army needed veterinarians to care for the war horses. John graduated with a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. He was able to visit his alma mater in 2010 to celebrate his 65th reunion at the School of Veterinary Medicine. After the war, John returned home to work with his father in the veterinary practice on Congers Road in New City. John was introduced to Shirley Mildred Fink by his youngest sister, Doris, who was in high school and dating Shirley's brother. In just 6 weeks John and Shirley were married at the New City Methodist Church in July 1948. They immediately began a family. He is survived by his wife and his three children, Shirley (and Jerry), John Jeffery (and Dawn), and Gary (and Susanne). John purchased his father's practice and established the County Animal Hospital which grew to a practice of four veterinarians. During the early years John cared for all of the cows, horses, goats and pigs that resided in Rockland as well as the pets of everyone in the area. He even took care of a baby elephant that walked through the door one day. John served both celebrities and citizens with equal care and compassion. John's early years were characterized with long hours in the office as well as the ringing of the phone through the night. Sometimes people even rang the doorbell of his home holding a favorite pet that had been hit by a car. John rose to the occasion and took care of everyone when they needed help no matter what time of day. An important job for him was taking care of the cows on the Goebel Dairy Farm in New City. His uncle and two aunts managed the farm and sent milk into the community as well as to the family's creamery in Haverstraw. John retired in the late seventies, but missed his active practice of medicine. He returned to his love of caring for animals by opening a new practice on New Hempstead Road, the Goebel Veterinary Clinic (now Animal Medical). He purchased an old home that had fallen to ruin and enjoyed the challenge of restoring and revising the home into a beautiful and functional space for office visits and surgeries. John received a beautification award from the Clarkstown Chamber of Commerce for his work. John's hobby was designing and building homes much to the chagrin of his wife. He enjoyed exploring different architectural styles and kept moving within New City. John lived in New City until retiring to Lavallette, NJ with his wife and eventually to Palm Beach Gardens in FL where he enjoyed the company of his two sisters, Mildred and Doris, 4 grandchildren, Kelley & Peter Christie and Morgan & JRily Goebel, 19 nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and great great nieces and nephews. John will surely be missed for his compassionate ways, his sense of humor, generous spirit and the important influence that he had in the lives of each of his children and grandchildren. His love of travel and architecture was shared with his family. He will be missed most of all by his wife, Shirley. There will be a memorial service at 6 pm on Tuesday, February 12 at Palms West Funeral Home, 110 Business Park Way, Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Flowers may be sent or a donation may be made in his memory to Hospice of Palm Beach.