Randy John Goldman

Randy John Goldman passed away Saturday, November 7 after a hard fought battle with Parkinson's disease, at his home, surrounded by his family and friends.

Randy was born on November 11, 1950 to Dale and Jean (Castner) Goldman. Randy attended and graduated from Somonauk High School in 1968. Upon graduation, Randy was drafted to play as a center fielder for the Chicago Cubs, but declined to attend Michigan State University. He came home from college to work on his family’s farm. He then took a job with the US Postal Service as a mail carrier. After his time there, he spent over twenty years working for Allsteel in Aurora in the office and as manager of the tool crib. When Allsteel closed their doors, he got his license to sell insurance and worked at the Somonauk Insurance Agency. While he was there, he went back to college and got his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. He took a job with Biogrow/Synagro as an agronomist. When he left Synagro, he took a job with First Farm Credit, now Compeer Financial where he had several titles. He started as a crop insurance salesman, then was promoted to sales trainer, where he mentored many sales people. He was then promoted to crop insurance team lead, where he led the sales training program until his retirement on his 70th birthday.

Randy met his wife Ursula in Aurora at a dance club called “The Mug” in early 1972. They were married on October 21,1972, and just celebrated 54 years of marriage. They loved going out dancing together and with friends, taking dance lessons to learn all types of dancing, and fishing and golfing together. They had two children, Erik in 1979 and Elizabeth in 1981.

Randy was devoted to many things in his life. He was a very involved father and grandfather. He coached both Erik and Elizabeth, and was an active member and leader of the Somonauk Summer Recreation Program and the Somonauk Sports Boosters while they were both in sports and beyond. As a grandfather, there were not many days where he was not attending a game to watch a grandchild play something from t-ball to college volleyball. He was a leader for the local boys scouts for many years, a hunter safety instructor for over 40 years, including instructing his two children, three of his grandchildren and instructing and certifying the FFA students at Serena High School for the last several years. When you didn’t find him at a ball field or in a gym, he could be found in a tree stand hunting for deer or elk, walking a grass field hunting for pheasants or doves, in a boat or on the side of a pond fishing for bass, bluegill and crappie, at the racetrack watching midgets and winged sprints, on the golf course golfing with his wife, children, grandchildren, friends or in an outing, or watching his beloved Michigan State Spartans or LA Dodgers in his camouflage armchair. He was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman whose favorite color was camouflage. Another passion for Randy was his garden. It was always large, very productive and weed free, even up until his very last garden this past summer. In his thirties, he started a dj business with his brother Ricky, called R & R Music. Randy’s voice was made for the microphone. When he gave that up, he got rid of all of the equipment except for the microphone. He spent many years being the voice behind the microphone at Somonauk High School. He announced for many games, including Little Ten Tournaments and Regionals, but his most proud announcing day of the year was always Somonauk’s Pack the Place.

Randy is survived by his wife Ursula, his son Erik (Jenna) Goldman, his daughter Elizabeth (Jeremy) Whiteaker, his five grandchildren Everett, Harper, Kendall, Tucker and Claire, his brother Cary (Trudie) Goldman, and his sister Susan Fuertges, several brothers- and sister-in-laws, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Ricky.

We will celebrate Randy’s life at his visitation on Thursday, November 12th from 1PM to 5PM. The visitation will be held at The Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. Funeral services will follow the visitation and begin at 5PM at the funeral home. For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com 

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family would like donations to be made in Randy’s name written and sent to the Somonauk Sports Boosters, 500 W LaSalle St., Somonauk, IL 60552. 

Turner-Eighner Funeral Home 

13160 W. RT 34 ~ P.O. Box 404

Somonauk, IL 60552

815-498-2363