“David picked the name Care Dental because ultimately, that’s what we are about. Care.” - Dr. Michal Lukowski, Care Dental Group partner
Doctor David A. Goerz, a charitable powerhouse, a pillar of leadership, and force for change in the Morden and Winkler communities passed away on Sunday of May 11th, 2025.
The local dentist
Doctor Michal Lukowski, long-time friend of Dr. Goerz and business partner of 25 years, compared their working relationship to a marriage in many ways.
“We fought together, we laughed together, we cried together. We did everything—in terms of dentistry anyway... He spearheaded me to get involved in the professional part of dentistry.”
Dr. Lukowski said that one of Dr. Goerz’s many legacies was his large following of patients. Generations of families that even followed along from his father before him as he stepped into the role of dentist.
How Dr. Goerz held that following, shared Dr. Lukowski, was through his sheer dedication to the patient. “He would really see anybody with a toothache after hours, whether that be an evening, a Saturday or Sunday, or after midnight. There would be no questions asked, he would just come to the office and help you out.”
Dr. Lukowski shared one of his favourite stories as an example of this, saying, “He got a call shortly after midnight from a lady who was at least eight months expecting, but she had a toothache and just couldn’t stand it anymore. And he said, ‘You know what, I haven’t slept yet, give me two hours. I need to sleep for two hours, and then I’ll see you.’”
Another way that Dr. Goerz served his community at large, was through his involvement in the dental profession in Manitoba as former President of the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA), remaining involved even after serving his time as President.
“Up to now, really. He was very involved and also involved with the Canadian Dental Association across the country and really spearheading some ideas of where the profession should be going.”
During his time with the MDA, Dr. Goerz dealt with many issues, among which were the difficulties the profession faced during the pandemic, as well as advocating for some form of dental assisting program to be held locally in the absence of the former program held at Red River College.
While there are those who would buckle under the pressure of leading the way and spearheading change, Dr. Lukowski says that was all par for the course for Dr. Goerz.
“That’s the person he was, but he always felt that whatever it is that you’re doing, you need to try and improve it and make it better.”
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The community builder
John Wiens, whose involvement was integral to the development of the old hospital in Boundary Trails Place, is a friend of the family, and knew Dr. Goerz since almost the beginning.
“I have known Dr. David Goerz virtually all his life, from the time he was around two years old. His father and I were good friends, and that friendship with the family continued.”
Wiens shared that Dr. Goerz was one of the main instigators in putting together Boundary Trails Place and held tight that responsibility right until the selling of the place near the end of last year.
“David wanted things to move forward in Morden, so he did whatever he could to do that. He was one of the driving forces behind the movement of the restaurant from the Pembina Valley down to Minnewasta Golf Club to become a clubhouse. He supported that basically throughout his life.”
That driving force to improve the place he called home was something that Wiens said could always be found in Dr. Goerz.
“He was just that kind of person. He wanted things to become better for people in his community.”
Morden Mayor Nancy Penner also reflected on the loss of Dr. Goerz, a man whom both she and Dr. Lukowski individually described as “larger than life.”
“It was heartbreaking to hear of his sudden passing, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Helena and her family,” she said, “Dave was a big personality within the City of Morden with his work at Boundary Trails Place, getting that facility up and running, and then the eventual sale that happened in December. But also his work up at the golf course with the original timber frame building.”
She said that though he was a big personality, he went about his work quietly, leaving a big impact on the community.
“He will be sorely missed.”
The community gathered for the Celebration of Life for Dr. Goerz on Tuesday afternoon.
- with files from Care Dental Group social media -