Obituary for Patricia E. Goodspeed (Jeski)
Patricia Eileen Goodspeed, 79, of Knightstown, Indiana, passed away on Friday, January 6, 2023, at Henry County Memorial Hospital in New Castle, Indiana. Patricia was born on January 4, 1944, in Louisville, Kentucky, to the late Edward and Mildred (Mattox) Jeski.
Patricia was married to her loving husband, Donald Lee Goodspeed, on January 24, 1970. The couple was married for 50 years, celebrating that anniversary prior to Donald's passing on September 18, 2021.
Patricia graduated from high school in 1962 from the Keystone School in San Antonio, Texas. She went on to graduate from American River College in 1965, Purdue University in 1970 (with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Russian) and Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis in 1976.
Patricia opened her legal practice, Patricia Goodspeed Attorney at Law, in 1977 in Knightstown, Indiana. While Patricia handled a range of legal issues, her primary focus was in family law and criminal defense. She was regarded highly as a trial attorney and known as a fierce advocate for her clients. Patricia also acted as judge pro tempore for Henry County, Indiana. In addition, her civic involvement also included being a member of the Knightstown Town Council and running for Henry County Superior Court judge as a Democrat in 1984 – an election she narrowly lost.
Patricia was also an author of both family genealogies and novels, including the murder mystery “Murder on Persimmon Lane”.
Prior to graduating law school, Patricia taught high school history in the Indianapolis Public School system.
During her life, Patricia had the opportunity to live throughout the United States and in Istanbul, Turkey, for a time. She enjoyed traveling the world including Europe, Central America, the Caribbean and Asia. The only U.S. state Patricia had not visited was Hawaii – she had plans to visit there in July 2023.
She was an active member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Knightstown, Indiana. Upon the unfortunate closing of St. Rose of Lima, Patricia reluctantly joined St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rushville, Indiana.
Patricia belonged to numerous clubs and organizations including the Phi Chi Epsilon Sorority, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Red Hat Society, the Democratic Party and the American Legion. Her hobbies included photography, quilting and knitting, collecting hats, cooking and belly dancing.
Those left to cherish her memory include her brother Steve Jeski (Becky) of Yuma, Arizona, and her sister Tonia Jezewska of Venice, Florida. Children, Robert John Paine Goodspeed (Julie) of Waller, Texas; Jonathan Edward Goodspeed (Bora Kim) of Seoul, South Korea; and Victoria Thankful Goodspeed (David Anderson) of Knightstown, Indiana. Grandchildren, Jacob Nathaniel Goodspeed (Ana), John Clayton Goodspeed (Madison), Alexander Kim Goodspeed, Catherine Kim Goodspeed, Colin Lloyd Anderson and Everett Lee Anderson. Patricia will also be missed by several cousins, nieces and nephews. Her close friends, John Kaiser and Diana Nash, both of Knightstown, Indiana. Her foreign exchange children Pierre Verdier (Marie-Christine Verdier-Jouclas) of Rabastens, France; Kirsten Kruse of San Francisco, California; and Hideyo Shimoyama of Okayama, Japan. Finally, her loving cat, Cadmium.
The following will be hosted at Heritage Funeral Care in Knightstown, Indiana; visitation on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 4 – 7 p.m; on Wednesday January 11, 2023, a Rosary Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Glen Cove Cemetery, Knightstown, Indiana.
You may send the family a personal condolence at www.heritagefuneralcares.com.
The Hunt family and Heritage staff are honored to serve the family of Patricia Goodspeed.
Patricia was married to her loving husband, Donald Lee Goodspeed, on January 24, 1970. The couple was married for 50 years, celebrating that anniversary prior to Donald's passing on September 18, 2021.
Patricia graduated from high school in 1962 from the Keystone School in San Antonio, Texas. She went on to graduate from American River College in 1965, Purdue University in 1970 (with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Russian) and Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis in 1976.
Patricia opened her legal practice, Patricia Goodspeed Attorney at Law, in 1977 in Knightstown, Indiana. While Patricia handled a range of legal issues, her primary focus was in family law and criminal defense. She was regarded highly as a trial attorney and known as a fierce advocate for her clients. Patricia also acted as judge pro tempore for Henry County, Indiana. In addition, her civic involvement also included being a member of the Knightstown Town Council and running for Henry County Superior Court judge as a Democrat in 1984 – an election she narrowly lost.
Patricia was also an author of both family genealogies and novels, including the murder mystery “Murder on Persimmon Lane”.
Prior to graduating law school, Patricia taught high school history in the Indianapolis Public School system.
During her life, Patricia had the opportunity to live throughout the United States and in Istanbul, Turkey, for a time. She enjoyed traveling the world including Europe, Central America, the Caribbean and Asia. The only U.S. state Patricia had not visited was Hawaii – she had plans to visit there in July 2023.
She was an active member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Knightstown, Indiana. Upon the unfortunate closing of St. Rose of Lima, Patricia reluctantly joined St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rushville, Indiana.
Patricia belonged to numerous clubs and organizations including the Phi Chi Epsilon Sorority, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Red Hat Society, the Democratic Party and the American Legion. Her hobbies included photography, quilting and knitting, collecting hats, cooking and belly dancing.
Those left to cherish her memory include her brother Steve Jeski (Becky) of Yuma, Arizona, and her sister Tonia Jezewska of Venice, Florida. Children, Robert John Paine Goodspeed (Julie) of Waller, Texas; Jonathan Edward Goodspeed (Bora Kim) of Seoul, South Korea; and Victoria Thankful Goodspeed (David Anderson) of Knightstown, Indiana. Grandchildren, Jacob Nathaniel Goodspeed (Ana), John Clayton Goodspeed (Madison), Alexander Kim Goodspeed, Catherine Kim Goodspeed, Colin Lloyd Anderson and Everett Lee Anderson. Patricia will also be missed by several cousins, nieces and nephews. Her close friends, John Kaiser and Diana Nash, both of Knightstown, Indiana. Her foreign exchange children Pierre Verdier (Marie-Christine Verdier-Jouclas) of Rabastens, France; Kirsten Kruse of San Francisco, California; and Hideyo Shimoyama of Okayama, Japan. Finally, her loving cat, Cadmium.
The following will be hosted at Heritage Funeral Care in Knightstown, Indiana; visitation on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 4 – 7 p.m; on Wednesday January 11, 2023, a Rosary Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Glen Cove Cemetery, Knightstown, Indiana.
You may send the family a personal condolence at www.heritagefuneralcares.com.
The Hunt family and Heritage staff are honored to serve the family of Patricia Goodspeed.