Edward Gotzy

Edward Gotzy, 80, of Owensboro, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2017 while under the care of Hospice of Western Kentucky. He was born September 26, 1936 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia to the late Albert and Terezia Reisenauer Gotzy.

After the German invasion and takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1939, Edward's father was drafted into the German army and was not to be seen by his family again for seven years. During the war years, Ed, his mother, and younger brother lived on money she had saved from the sale of a delicatessen store. After the war, the Communist party took over his native land and checked into the Gotzy family background. When it was learned they were of German descent, they were interned in a concentration camp for a short period of time after which they were deported to West Germany. It was there that Ed and his family were re-united with his father.

The hardships encountered in post-war Germany compelled the family to leave the country. In 1952, they immigrated to British Columbia, Canada, where Ed learned to speak English and finished high school. He attended Notre Dame Junior College in Nelson, B.C. and then transferred to Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where he earned a degree in Chemistry. He went to work as a chemist in the Anaconda Aluminum Company laboratory at Columbia Falls, Montana and married his wife Karen. In 1969, the family moved to Kentucky where he worked for National Southwire Aluminum as chief chemist until he retired in 1990.

In his youth, skiing, soccer, and hockey were his favorite sports. He was instrumental in establishing Owensboro's youth hockey program and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and gardening.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Karen Gotzy, two daughters, Carol Adkins and husband David of Owensboro and Lanette Yeakley and husband Jay of Woodland Park, CO; three grandchildren, Karla (C.J.) Carter of Lexington, Jamie Adkins of Owensboro, and Ty Yeakley (U.S.A.F.) stationed in New Mexico; a great granddaughter, Madelyn Anne Carter; his brother, Walter Gotzy of Blind Bay, British Columbia, Canada; a nephew, Lance Gotzy of Nelson, B.C., Canada, and a niece, Lana Gotzy of Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

The family would like to honor Edward with a Celebration of his Life from 11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. Friday March 17, at Thruston United Methodist Church, 5551 Kentucky 405, in Owensboro.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 101 N.W. First St., Suite 203, Evansville, IN 47708, Fresh Start Women's Transitional Housing, P. O. Box 1386, Owensboro, KY 42302, or the Wendell Foster's Campus, 815 Triplett St., Owensboro, KY 42303.