obituaries

The Rev. Richard Goebel believed that nobody should have to go without food, and that is what spurred him into action as a fierce crusader in the fight against hunger, locally and nationally.

Goebel founded the Greater St. Paul Second Harvest Food Bank in 1982 and served as its executive director until he retired in 2001. During his tenure, he was instrumental in creating the Greater Minneapolis Second Harvest Food Bank and later merging them to create what is now known as Second Harvest Heartland, the largest food bank in Minnesota.

He was a master at building relationships and getting others to join his hunger-fighting efforts. He was among the first to pick up restaurant and grocery food destined for the trash and get it to people in need. He was instrumental in creating the popular Taste of the NFL fundraiser, and he helped create Feeding America, a national network of more than 200 food banks throughout the United States, those who knew him said.

"If he found a dollar, he'd spend it in a way to get somebody fed," said Newell Searle, vice president of external relations for Second Harvest Heartland. "He would say, 'You'll always have the poor, but why the hungry?' He believed that we could do substantial and significant things in respect to hunger, and he inspired a lot of people to become involved and engaged."

Goebel's health had failed in recent weeks, and he died Sunday in the intensive-care unit at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood. He was 73.

Goebel's dedication to ending hunger began with outreach programs for seniors and various ethnic groups he started as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in St. Paul. He had served parishes in Whittier, Calif.; Jeffries and Rhinelander, Wis., and Duluth, but he moved to St. Paul in 1971 because of his desire to do inner-city mission work, said his son Tim, of Maplewood.

"His passion was helping the needy and reaching those who had not heard the word," his son said. "He got to affect so many people's lives."

He served on the boards of the St. Paul Area Council of Churches, Minnesota Food Share, Hunger Solutions Minnesota, Habitat for Humanity and other advocacy organizations for the poor and hungry. He was recognized by Feeding America in 2001 with the inaugural Dick Goebel Public Service Award, which is given annually to recognize those involved in hunger-fighting efforts.

"Dick had a tremendous impact on hunger relief in our community -- both in terms of getting food to those in need and inspiring others to join in the fight to end hunger," said Rob Zeaske, executive director of Second Harvest Heartland.

"Dick's heartfelt enthusiasm, tremendous vision, boundless compassion and respect for others will be greatly missed."

Goebel was still active right up to his death. He had been an interim pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in St. Paul in recent years, his son said.

Goebel was born in Wausau, Wis., and graduated from Concordia College in Milwaukee. He attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and earned his Master of Divinity in 1961.

In addition to his son, Goebel is survived by another son, Joseph, of Fort Bliss, Texas; two daughters, Rebecca Harstad, of Cloquet, Minn., and Elizabeth Moldrem, of St. Paul; a sister, Verna Schuett, of Wausau, Wis., and four grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church, 803 Jackson St., St. Paul. Visitation will be held one hour before services at the church.