William "Bill" Goertzen was born in Oklahoma, the sixth of eleven children on March 21, 1916, to Jacob Goertzen and Anna Shierling Goertzen. On July 20, 1941, Bill and Martha were married. The Goertzens were married for 69 years, and lived in California for their entire married life. They are survived by three children, Chris Prine, Bill and wife, Rebecca, Mike and wife, Terri; son-in-law, Ken Janzen and wife Sandy; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Their daughter, Deborah Ann, preceded them in death. Bill traveled throughout the world with his wife sharing his love of the Lord, and being a blessing to many people in the different parts of the world to which he traveled. He lived and worked in Africa for two years as one of their extensive missionary building projects. Bill accepted the Lord as his Savior in his early 20's and became a member of the Shafter Mennonite Brethren church when they moved to Shafter and has remained a faithful member for the remainder of his life. Serving in the church he loved, he taught Sunday school, and worked in any other area that he was called upon to serve. In addition to being missed by his family, he will be missed by the many friends with whom he shared his fruitful and eventful life. As the family members miss him here on this earth they are looking forward to sharing eternity with him in heaven where he is now enjoying the eternal life promised to him by the Lord Jesus Christ. Graveside services will be held Friday, July 30 at 10am at Shafter Memorial Park for William Goertzen, age 94, who passed away July 25, 2010 in Bakersfield. Pastor Charles Toy of the Shafter First Assembly of God Church will officiate and interment will follow. Visitations will be held Wednesday and Thursday from 2pm to 8pm at Peters Funeral Home.