Robert Vincent Goedert was born 23 January 1926 in Oak Park, Illinois to John Peter and Elizabeth Ann (Wink) Goedert. He was the eighth of twelve children in his family. He attended Saint Giles Elementary School in Oak Park, Illinois from 1931-39 and was taught by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. He then went to our Dominican High School, Fenwick, in Oak Park, and graduated valedictorian of his class in 1943. After high school, he attended one year at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

Father Goedert entered the Dominican Novitiate on 24 June 1944 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois and was given the religious name, Alexius. He was affectionately known through the years by his Dominican brothers as "Lex." He professed his first vows on 25 June 1945 and his final vows on 25 June 1948, both at Saint Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois. He began his studies for the priesthood at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest in 1948 and was ordained to the priesthood on 1 June 1951 at Saint Pius V Church in Chicago, Illinois by Bishop William Cousins.

Father Goedert's first assignment, from 1952-60, was as Assistant Pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in New Orleans, Louisiana and served on the faculty at Jesuit High School in New Orleans. In 1960 he joined the United States Air Force as a chaplain in active duty until 1965 and on reserve until 1988. From 1965-68 he was the Pastor/Director of Saint Thomas Aquinas Newman Center at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Father Goedert then returned to Chicago and served the province in administrative roles as Director of the Society for Vocational Support (1968-73), Provincial Syndic (1968-69), and Provincial Promoter of the Dominican Third Order (1969-73). From 1973-88 he was on reserve for the Air Force Chaplaincy program. Beginning in 1988, he served as chaplain at Hines Veterans Hospital in Maywood, Illinois for two years. Father Goedert then became involved in a full-time preaching ministry with residence at Saint Gertrude Parish in St. Clair Shores, Michigan from 1990-96. Through his preaching, he started many Eucharistic Adoration groups around the country, was a strong Pro-Life advocate and a great support to many military families. He relocated to Chicago at Saint Pius V Priory in 1996 and continued his preaching ministry until he had to go on limited service.

Father Goedert remained active in the priory community until the last few years before his death. He was diagnosed with dementia and as it progressed, it was no longer possible to care for him at Saint Pius Priory. In the Fall of 2015, he was transferred to Holy Family Villa in Palos Park, Illinois, operated by Catholic Charities. He continued to decline and become more disoriented. He died peacefully at Holy Family Villa on the morning of 19 December 2015 just hours after the death of Father Giles Klapperich. Father Goedert was in his 90th year.

At the time of his death, Father Goedert was survived by three siblings, Bishop Raymond Goedert, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Mr. William Goedert, and Mrs. Caroline Doyle, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation was held from

7:00-10:00PM, Sunday, 27 December 2015 beginning with Sung Office of the Dead. Mass of Christian Burial was on Monday, 28 December 2015 at 10:00AM preceded by Sung Morning Prayer. Bishop Raymond Goedert presided and Father Jack O'Malley, O.P. preached. Both liturgies were held at Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish, River Forest, Illinois. Funeral arrangements were handled by Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home. Burial was in the Dominican Section at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.