Wilbur Gratopp Goesch was born June 26, 1927 in Wayside, NE. The family later moved to Buffalo Gap and then to Hot Springs. As a young man, Wilbur joined the Army and served in the military police in Germany. Upon his return to the United States, he married Elaine Redepenning and lived in Ortonville, MN. He owned a service station there until he moved with Elaine and their son, Mark, back to Hot Springs in the mid-60s.

Wilbur opened Crankshaft Service which was located on River St and served many local residents and ranchers with his machining talents during the 1970s. He moved to Dallas, OR and worked as a machinist during the 1980s and returned again to Hot Springs in 1990. Many will remember him for selling Christmas trees each year.

Elaine passed away in 1997 and he married Helen Leedham in 2002. He was an active member of Bethesda Lutheran Church over several decades. He loved working in his shop, gardening, driving his Graham Bros. truck in parades, and being around people.

Wilbur passed away June 9, 2017 at the VA Medical Center and was survived by his wife (Helen), his son and daughter-in-law (Mark and Marlene of Sioux Center, IA), granddaughter (Vonna Laue and husband Bryan), two great-granddaughters (Bethany and Kimberly), his brother (George of Salem, OR), and countless friends.