Alan E Gooderum
Gooderum, Alan Eugene Alan Gooderum passed away peacefully at home in Mount Laurel, NJ on July 11, 2022, with family by his side. He was born in 1927 to Paul and Elsie Gooderum in Winona, Minnesota. He grew up in Winona with sister Joyce (Schumacher of Walnut Creek, CA) and brother Paul (deceased). Alan played timpani in the school band, sang in the school choir and enjoyed playing pool with friends in town. He graduated from Winona High School in 1945.
Alan was a proud veteran, enlisting in the US Navy after high school and first served from 1945 to 1946 as World War II ended. Alan then returned to Minnesota to attend the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. After graduation, at the start of the Korean War, he was called up again by the US Navy for his second tour of duty as Ensign and served on ships in the Pacific and Mediterranean from 1951 to 1952. While on leave in New Jersey he met his first wife Virginia (deceased) at a USO dance. They were married in 1952. After his second tour ended, Alan began his accounting career with Arthur Andersen in New York City.
Alan and Virginia welcomed their first child, Karen (Gooderum Moshier of Boston, MA) in 1954 in Queens, NY. Their second child, Carol (Luster of Albuquerque, NM) was born in Plainfield, NJ in 1956. In April 1957 Alan became a CPA. Later in 1957 Alan and Virginia moved their family to Ridgway, PA, where Alan served as plant accountant for Ridgway Color and Chemical Co. (a division of Martin-Marietta, Co.) for four years. While in Ridgway, they welcomed their third child, Stephen (of Tucson, AZ) in 1957. The family moved to Hokendauqua, PA in 1961, where Alan was an accounting manager with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. In 1963, Alan took a job with Hugo Stinnes Corp., the US division of a German corporation, in New York City and moved with the family to Dobbs Ferry, NY. While in Dobbs Ferry, Alan and Virginia welcomed their fourth child, Laura (Stevens of Durham, NC) in 1963.
In 1964 the family moved to Chappaqua, NY and then in 1965 they moved to Syosset, NY, where they lived until the late 1970s. Alan and Virginia divorced in 1979. Alan moved to Manhattan where he lived in the West Village until 1988. While living in Manhattan, Alan met Shirley Steibel. Alan and Shirley were married in 1987. Alan officially retired from Stinnes Corp. as CFO in 1987 but continued to work with Stinnes Corp. as a consultant.
Alan and Shirley moved to Mount Laurel, NJ in 1988, along with Shirley’s daughter Merrill (Steibel, deceased) and granddaughter Jennifer (Rosenman). Throughout their retirement, Alan and Shirley enjoyed traveling around the United States to visit family and friends and explore nature, wintering in Florida, dancing and volunteering. Alan served as a volunteer for his Mount Laurel condo association for over 30 years. Alan enjoyed golf, photography and, until shortly before his death, tennis and bowling. Most especially, Alan found joy in the growth of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with fond memories of family get togethers in Mount Laurel and at the beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Alan was generous and expressed it in any ways, from giving thoughtful gifts to giving time and advice to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Alan lived simply, cared deeply, and spoke kindly. He shared the peace of nature with his family, teaching us all that in a sunset there is a new beginning.
Alan is survived by his wife of 34 years, Shirley Gooderum; children, Karen (late Kevin) Moshier, Carol (James) Luster, Stephen Gooderum, and Laura (Don) Stevens; stepdaughter, Holly (Kenneth) Johnson and family; grandchildren, Andrew, Jennifer, Tyler, Samantha, Jake, Michaela, Rachael, Juliana, Amanda, Ethan and Emma; great grandchildren, Zoe, Lily, Joie, Layla, Evelyn, Stella, Zachary, Avery and Cassius.
