The biography of Garland is, as it should be for any believing Christian, summed up in these words: “I’m saved by the Grace of God through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Garland Earl Gotoski was born to Adam and Marie Gotoski on October 1, 1919, in Waterloo, Iowa. He attended public schools in Waterloo and graduated in 1938. He later married Frieda Walz and to this union was born a daughter, Cordella (Cordy). Later in Garland’s senior year at Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, they adopted a 10 year old boy, Gerald.

Garland served in the U. S. Army from 1942-1946, Stateside and overseas in the C.B.I. Theatre of Operations (China-Burma-India). After his discharge at the close of WW II, he enrolled in Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa and graduated from Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa in 1951. He was called by the Mission Committee of the American Lutheran Church to establish new congregations. His first congregation was in Duluth, Minnesota, Christ Lutheran. From there he was called to establish another mission in Alburquerque, New Mexico. From there he was asked to help relocate and revitalize a congregation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also served congregations in Chillicothe, Illinois and in Manchester, Missouri, and then was asked to help a struggling congregation in Ogden, Utah, where at the age of 65, and having served for 33 years in the American Lutheran Church, he retired as “Pastor Emeritus” for the “first time.” He and his wife of 47 years moved to Clifton, Texas where he began another phase of ministry as a visitation Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church. His wife was called to her Heavenly Home in 1988. The next year he married Cordella (Ernst) Mitsch, a long time friend of his and his first wife. She was a widow and member of the LCMS (her father was an LCMS Pastor.) Garland then sought colloquy into the LCMS under Dr. Glen O’Shoney, president of the Texas District, LCMS. He was granted this and began by serving Our Savior Lutheran congregation in Whitney, Texas. In 1991 he was called to serve Zion Lutheran Church as “Visitation Pastor/Minister to Older Adults.” His second wife, Cordella, died of cancer in 1996. Later Pastor Gotoski married Grace Hanssen, the volunteer Parish Nurse at Zion. In June 2002, he accepted a Call to Grace, DeWitt to serve as Assistant to the Pastor, with a focus on older adult ministry. In June 2007, he retired and continues to serve as his health permits, occasionally conducting/assisting with worship and funeral services, making shut-in visits, and leading worship at Westwing and Amber Ridge

   Sola Deo Gloria