Larry A. Goertz

Larry Alfred Goertz, 75, of Burleson, Texas, passed away on February 20, 2024, at home. Larry was a brother, uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and friend. He had a brilliant mind and a very generous spirit toward those in need.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, February 28th at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in String Prairie, Texas.
Larry was born on April 17, 1948, in San Antonio, Texas, to Emma and John A. Goertz. The family moved to the String Prairie family farm when he was two years old. That same year, Larry’s sister Mary Ann was born, and in 1955 his brother Roland completed the family. Larry graduated from Smithville High School as Valedictorian in 1966. He left the farm to attend Texas A&M University on a presidential scholarship and received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1970. During college summers, Larry interned with the USDA Soil Conservation Service and was hired by them full time after graduation. Later, he returned to school at the University of Texas at Austin to obtain one of the first Masters of Civil Engineering in Hydraulics degrees ever awarded by the school.

Larry was a master of all things with numbers. He worked 38 years for the USDA until his retirement, and then embarked on a part-time career working for a private consulting engineering firm until this year. He has an enduring legacy of projects he was instrumental in designing across Texas and the Western United States. Besides his work, Larry enjoyed spending time back at the family farm where he grew up, tending to his legendary garden and watching the sunset. He also spent years perfecting his famous “Goertz Family Wine” that many were lucky to receive as a Christmas gift.

Larry was preceded in death by his father, John A. Goertz, his mother, Emma Goertz, and his bother-in-law, Robert A. Patterson. He is survived by his sister, Mary Ann Patterson, and her children, John Patterson and wife Michelle, Anne Warren and husband Greg, his brother Roland Goertz and wife Rosemary, and their daughters Adrienne Lombardi and husband Andrew, Allison Harkins and husband Patrick, and Caitlin Young and husband Clayton. Nine great-nieces and nephews and a multitude of extended family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors also loved Larry.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the engineering departments of either Texas A&M University or the University of Texas at Austin, or your charity of choice.

The family thanks Clifton, Sara, and Brett Goertz for helping Larry at the farm through the years.  They also want to express their sincere gratitude to everyone for the expressions of love, concern, and kindness shown to them during this time of sadness.