John, Else and Karl left Germany and arrived in New York Harbor on December 24, 1951 after an 11 day voyage on the U.S.S. Constitution. Speaking no English, John began work at Thew Shovel in Lorain as a crane operator. In 1957, after six years of studying, John and Else recited the Pledge of Allegiance and became American citizens.
His Scouting career started as a volunteer with Troop 427 in Amherst. In 1961, he became the Troop's Scoutmaster and helped it grow to over 125 scouts. In 1964, Mr. Goebel was asked to take a position as Ranger of the Boy Scout's Camp Firelands in Henrietta Township. He left a newly built house that he had never lived in, a job at Ford Motor and moved his family to the camp.
For the next 24 years, John remained firmly committed to the idea that he was there "for the boys." Together, even while raising their own family, John and Else built more than 20 structures, weathered blizzard, flood and fire, guided a generation of young boys as they grew into men and made lifelong impressions on the countless thousands of youth and adult leaders that passed through Camp Firelands. Known as "The Builder," one of John's most important accomplishments was to reconstruct the bridge that spanned the Vermilion River and divided camp. Realizing that floodwaters could prevent him from reaching Scouts on the other side of the river, John used his endless community connections to secure donations and volunteer labor to complete a structure that would handle the largest fire trucks. A brilliant public speaker, Mr. Goebel knew exactly how to reach people at any given time, whether it was a word of kindness for a homesick scout, a speech on what it means to be an American or a rousing chorus of "Sixpence" in the dining hall. An accomplished mason, carpenter and outdoorsman, John was also a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's Honor Camper organization, whose given name meant "hard-worker."
After his retirement in 1988, John and Else purchased a home just down the road from the camp they loved so dearly. When not busy with family, friends or a project at the house, John and Else could often be found at the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center in North Olmsted where they were members of the dance group.
His Scouting career started as a volunteer with Troop 427 in Amherst. In 1961, he became the Troop's Scoutmaster and helped it grow to over 125 scouts. In 1964, Mr. Goebel was asked to take a position as Ranger of the Boy Scout's Camp Firelands in Henrietta Township. He left a newly built house that he had never lived in, a job at Ford Motor and moved his family to the camp.
For the next 24 years, John remained firmly committed to the idea that he was there "for the boys." Together, even while raising their own family, John and Else built more than 20 structures, weathered blizzard, flood and fire, guided a generation of young boys as they grew into men and made lifelong impressions on the countless thousands of youth and adult leaders that passed through Camp Firelands. Known as "The Builder," one of John's most important accomplishments was to reconstruct the bridge that spanned the Vermilion River and divided camp. Realizing that floodwaters could prevent him from reaching Scouts on the other side of the river, John used his endless community connections to secure donations and volunteer labor to complete a structure that would handle the largest fire trucks. A brilliant public speaker, Mr. Goebel knew exactly how to reach people at any given time, whether it was a word of kindness for a homesick scout, a speech on what it means to be an American or a rousing chorus of "Sixpence" in the dining hall. An accomplished mason, carpenter and outdoorsman, John was also a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's Honor Camper organization, whose given name meant "hard-worker."
After his retirement in 1988, John and Else purchased a home just down the road from the camp they loved so dearly. When not busy with family, friends or a project at the house, John and Else could often be found at the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center in North Olmsted where they were members of the dance group.
John, Else and Karl left Germany and arrived in New York Harbor on December 24, 1951 after an 11 day voyage on the U.S.S. Constitution. Speaking no English, John began work at Thew Shovel in Lorain as a crane operator. In 1957, after six years of studying, John and Else recited the Pledge of Allegiance and became American citizens.
His Scouting career started as a volunteer with Troop 427 in Amherst. In 1961, he became the Troop's Scoutmaster and helped it grow to over 125 scouts. In 1964, Mr. Goebel was asked to take a position as Ranger of the Boy Scout's Camp Firelands in Henrietta Township. He left a newly built house that he had never lived in, a job at Ford Motor and moved his family to the camp.
For the next 24 years, John remained firmly committed to the idea that he was there "for the boys." Together, even while raising their own family, John and Else built more than 20 structures, weathered blizzard, flood and fire, guided a generation of young boys as they grew into men and made lifelong impressions on the countless thousands of youth and adult leaders that passed through Camp Firelands. Known as "The Builder," one of John's most important accomplishments was to reconstruct the bridge that spanned the Vermilion River and divided camp. Realizing that floodwaters could prevent him from reaching Scouts on the other side of the river, John used his endless community connections to secure donations and volunteer labor to complete a structure that would handle the largest fire trucks. A brilliant public speaker, Mr. Goebel knew exactly how to reach people at any given time, whether it was a word of kindness for a homesick scout, a speech on what it means to be an American or a rousing chorus of "Sixpence" in the dining hall. An accomplished mason, carpenter and outdoorsman, John was also a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's Honor Camper organization, whose given name meant "hard-worker."
After his retirement in 1988, John and Else purchased a home just down the road from the camp they loved so dearly. When not busy with family, friends or a project at the house, John and Else could often be found at the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center in North Olmsted where they were members of the dance group.
His Scouting career started as a volunteer with Troop 427 in Amherst. In 1961, he became the Troop's Scoutmaster and helped it grow to over 125 scouts. In 1964, Mr. Goebel was asked to take a position as Ranger of the Boy Scout's Camp Firelands in Henrietta Township. He left a newly built house that he had never lived in, a job at Ford Motor and moved his family to the camp.
For the next 24 years, John remained firmly committed to the idea that he was there "for the boys." Together, even while raising their own family, John and Else built more than 20 structures, weathered blizzard, flood and fire, guided a generation of young boys as they grew into men and made lifelong impressions on the countless thousands of youth and adult leaders that passed through Camp Firelands. Known as "The Builder," one of John's most important accomplishments was to reconstruct the bridge that spanned the Vermilion River and divided camp. Realizing that floodwaters could prevent him from reaching Scouts on the other side of the river, John used his endless community connections to secure donations and volunteer labor to complete a structure that would handle the largest fire trucks. A brilliant public speaker, Mr. Goebel knew exactly how to reach people at any given time, whether it was a word of kindness for a homesick scout, a speech on what it means to be an American or a rousing chorus of "Sixpence" in the dining hall. An accomplished mason, carpenter and outdoorsman, John was also a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's Honor Camper organization, whose given name meant "hard-worker."
After his retirement in 1988, John and Else purchased a home just down the road from the camp they loved so dearly. When not busy with family, friends or a project at the house, John and Else could often be found at the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center in North Olmsted where they were members of the dance group.
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