"Roger was a great chess organizer and coach. He was an even better friend. I shared many great memories and good times with him at the Ames Chess Club, at chess tournaments, or over a beer and sports at his favorite watering hole(s). He will be greatly missed - and always remembered."
In loving memory of
Roger Gotschall
September 8, 1938 - February 28, 2016
Roger Wayne Gotschall, also known as "Coach", age 77, of Ames died at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines on February 28, 2016. A gathering of friends will be at 10:00 a.m. until Noon on Saturday, March 5, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way in Ames. Inurnment will be at a later date at Blencoe Cemetery in Blencoe, Iowa.
Roger was born September 8, 1938 in Blencoe, the son of Wayne and Paula Gotschall. He graduated from Blencoe High School. Coach attended Iowa State University graduating with a Civil Engineering degree. He taught Land Surveying at Iowa State University before joining the US Army in May of 1961, discharged in 1964. His first assignment with the Iowa Department of Transportation was in the Council Bluffs area. He then moved to Mason City to complete Interstate 35 from Dows to the Minnesota border. He finished his career in Ames as the head estimator in the Bridge Department. One of Roger's passions was chess; he played and taught it at the Ames Middle School and High School and also in the Ames Park and Recreation summertime program. He was a Senior US Federation Chess Tournament Director. You would also see him at the scorer table at the Iowa State men's and women's basketball games for over thirty years. He was a member of Ames Moose Lodge # 520, Ames Elks Lodge # 1626, Ames American Legion Post #37, Masonic Lodge A.F & A.M, and the Shriners.
Coach will be missed by a host of friends in Ames, Clear Lake, and Mason City along with his best friend, a Boston Terrier named Cypher "Cy".
Memorials may be directed to a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com
Tributes
"I always enjoyed Roger's passion for chess and cyclone athletics. We had a visit a short time ago. May he rest in peace"
"Roger was dear friend and mentor. I met Roger when attending college at ISU. He got me involved with my first scholastic chess club at Ames High School. I played in so many of his tournaments, I doubt I could count them all. When I would run into him at a US Open, it was obvious that Roger was known by all - a sign of the positive influence he had on chess. His scholastic clubs were always formidable - a testament to his dedication to teaching chess. I will miss Roger and will continually strive to be as giving as him."
"I worked at the DOT with Roger.
He was always dedicated and particular about his work and a true ISU fan.
Sorry to hear of his passing."
"I've known Roger for many years through my working with the US Chess Federation. We chatted often at many US Opens and Roger also visited our office in Crossville, TN. He was a dear chess friend and always a gentleman. "
"Roger was so encouraging to both my daughter and myself when we started to play chess. I'll always remember when he stayed after Cyclone Chess Club one night to show me the basic endgames - my first real instruction in chess. Thank you for everything, Roger, and may you rest in peace."
"Rest in Peace, Roger. "