Born in Halstead, KS, to Joseph W Goering and Lovella June Goering, Joe, also known as Butch, was an alum of Moundridge High School, University of Kansas, Yale University, Centre for Medieval Studies, and the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies in Toronto. He spent his career as a much loved and respected Professor of History at the University of Toronto. Besides being a scholar, Butch was a huge baseball and country music fan, a gifted storyteller, and a hunter of the holy grail.

Butch was the beloved husband of Paula Nina Goering (Waxse) whom he married in 1969 and who passed away in 2016. He was a loving brother to Patricia Smith (Bill) and Joyce Saricks (Chris), devoted father to Seth Goering (Ely Hara) and Johanna Jones (Ben Jones), and grampy to Charles Jones and Asha Goering.

Butch passed away on February 5th, 2023 surrounded by family and friends in Toronto, Canada. He will be missed by the many people who knew him as family, friend, godparent, mentor, and supervisor.