Joseph Goss
December 30, 1920 ~ June 22, 2009
Joseph John Goss age 88 of Lawler died Monday morning, June 22, 2009, at his Lawler home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2009, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Marvin Salz celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by his children. Chris Goss and Nick Summers will present the offertory gifts.
Interment with military honors will be in the church cemetery. His twelve grandchildren will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Arnie Busta, Don Blazek, Irv Schulz, Steve Lennon, Jack McKone, Jerry Meyers and Red Speltz.
Friends may call 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral home in New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 pm. Rosary and a 6:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday.
Joe Goss was born December 30, 1920, on the Canty family farm north of Lawler, the son of Ambrose Michael and Florence Ann (Canty) Goss. He attended Utica #4 country school and was a 1938 graduate of the Lawler High School. Joe served in the United States Navy as an aviation machinist and was honorably discharged on August 9, 1943. On February 18, 1947, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Hampton he married Signora Attleson. To this union seven children were born. The couple moved to their current Lawler home in 1951 and Joe worked at the former Eikoff Hardware from 1944 until 1993. He was also a rural mail carrier from 1949 until retiring without any accidents in 1986. Joe and Sig also had livestock for over 20 years. In his free time, Joe enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping, playing cards and gardening. Joe will be long remembered for being an avid historian for the town of Lawler.
Survivors include four sons, Gene Goss of Lawler, Bill (Maureen) Goss of Sumner, Jim (Teresa) Goss of Columbus, OH, Mike Goss of Scottsdale, AZ; three daughters, Cheryl (Vern) Ostrander of Des Moines, Jan Summers of Ankeny, Sue (Jim) Muth of Scottsdale, AZ; one sister, Sister Mary Eugene Goss P.B.V.M. of Dubuque; 18 grandchildren, two great grandchildren; two foreign exchange students who lived with the Goss family, Roland Schmitt of Germany and Ed Nunes of Argentina; his beloved dog, Sadie.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a grandson; a brother, Eugene Goss; a sister, Madonna Guenther.
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Our sincere condolences on Joe’s death. He was one of Lawler’s ‘most unforgettable characters’, loved by all who knew him and always with a cheery greeting no matter what the time or place. Although I’m gone from Lawler for 50 years, he always knew me instantly and wanted to know how I was doing. A wonderful man. Jim Blazek
Jan and entire Goss family: Please accept my sincere sympathy on the loss of your father. I remember his kind hospitality when I stayed at your home as Jan’s friend and guest a number of times in high school and shortly thereafter. Fathers are very special and I hope your many memories of him will help ease the pain in the days ahead. God be with you as you grieve your loss. Sincerely, Alice
For me Joe was considered one of Lawlers ‘Founding Fathers’ from childhood momories of heading to the hardware store where Red and Joe where always there… to the mail delievery… to the American Legion activities… and most important to Joe and Sig being great role models for all the children of the Lawler area for many many years.. Joe’s legacy will live on in each of his children and grandchildren. Our hearts go out to the Goss family.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Goss family. Joe will be greatly missed but he is now with his beloved Signora. Growing up, we spent many days at the Goss house playing and laughing on our vacations. Those days will never be forgotten. God’s peace!
My heart goes out to the Goss family in your time of grief. Uncle Joe was a fine man. Always had fun with him when we visited. One thing i will always remember is his vice like grip with those huge hands of his. He used to love to squeeze mine until I squealed. Again, my sympathies to you all. Hope Gene is feeling better. Love, Kara, George, Jenny & Sarah
To the Goss Family, so sorry to hear of your loss. Gene sorry I wasn’t there for you. I just read about your dad 20 minutes before visitation was over. I will keep you all in my prayers. Tisha Morris
I have always had a very special place in my heart for ‘Papa Joe and Mama Sig.’ I fondly remember the time I stayed with them in Lawler. Playing the piano, eating blue push-up popsicles on the back porch and following Papa Joe, (probably asking a million questions! ) while he took care of the animals and the garden/yard. I know he missed Signora, so I hope everyone will take comfort in knowing, that they are together again and watching over us from heaven. I Love you, Papa Joe! Always!, Lynn (Nicole, DJ, Grace, and Richard)
My heart goes out to all my cousins. Just wanted to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all during this trying time. I just hope that the fact that your mom and dad are now reunited for eternity brings you some comfort as it did for me when my dad passed away almost 9 years ago. Your father and mother have always been at the top of my favorite uncle and aunt list. Love you all, Mike
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
My deepest sympathy to all of the Goss family. Joe (Sig) will always have a special place in my heart, he will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
Our deepest sympathy and prayers are with you and yours. Your dad touched the lives of many in the Lawler area as did all of you . He will be missed .
Bill and family. We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Reading these condolence messages has told quite a story of him through others eyes. He sounds like quite a guy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at your time of loss. Bob and Carol Gorman
Cheryl, Gene, Bill, Jim, Jan, Mike, and Sue, You have my most sincere sympathy in the death of Uncle Joe. If Daddy were alive, he would be devastated. I always had so much fun when I was visiting in his and Aunt Sig’s home. Uncle Joe was such a tease. i will miss not seeing him or talking to him on the phone. I will hold you all in my prayers and my thoughs will be with you. Love to you all, Donnie
Jim, I don’t know if you remember me or not, we were stationed at Ellsworth AFB, SD. I drove you to catch your flight to get married. Joan and I only live about an hour away from New Hampton in Waterloo about 50 miles down hwy 63. Anyway our prayers and sympathy to you and your family. I saw the death notice in our Waterloo paper today. Rick Budde
Jim, I am so, so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. If there is anything I can help you with please let me know. You and your family are in my prayers. Jessica
My deepest sympathies are extended to your family. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Amy Beery, Columbus, OH
When you lose someone very precious to you, no one else can really know all that you feel. But please believe that warmest thought of you. Are in our hearts Gereon,Hans, Beatrix,Lucia Lake
Having known Sue Goss-Muth, one of Joseph’s daughters, Douglas and I see what a loving father Joseph must have been as this quality radiates through his daughter and now his grandchildren, Alex and Kelsy. Our prayers are with the entire Goss family.
OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE GOSS FAMILY AT THIS TIME GOD BLESS YOU ALL DAVE AND MARGE MAYO 1080 KELLY DR. NASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 27856
Another of Lawler’s greats meets his maker. Our sympathies to the entire Goss family. We have such good memories growing up with your family. Joe was always so kind to all of us – he’ll surely be missed. I can also see him playing cards with Sig, Art & Catherine and enjoying their reunion. Norma & Dave Creighton
Joe Goss Family, Sorry to hear of the passing of your Father. I am sure He will be greatly missed. Tom
Sorry to hear of your loss, but know that our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time.
Jan, Amanda and Nick- We are so sorry for your loss!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of loss. No words can express this, but we are thinking of you during this difficult time and always even though we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like !! Love, Carol, Johnna and Ericka
I am so sorry for your loss. It is a shame our families have lived so far apart all those years. I wish I could have known him more than just in stories.
To the Goss children, I have to tell you this story that my mom told me many years ago when our daughter was 4 and staying with her grandparents Ben and Lorraine Busta. Angie did something that upset her Grandma so she scolded her for it. Well it upset Angie so much she decided she was going to walk back to our home in Cedar Falls. She made it to the top of the hill east of my folks when Joe came along and picked her up near Stanley Busta’s and took her to Little Turkey. Joe brought her into the tavern and asked Clarence if he knew who this little girl was and where she belonged. Clarence said ‘I think its Benny Busta’s granddaughter.’ So he calls my mom–she never knew Angie was missing. Can you imagine what he must of thought caming upon this little girl walking down the road. Joe was a good guy, he will be missed. My condolences to all of you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this time and the times ahead. Uncle Joe was always such a joy to be around. I remember many a time during vacations, spending time over in Lawler. There were some good times to be had by all at the Goss house!! He will be missed by many but will be with friends and family forever in our hearts!! Just remember…..When a loved one becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure! We love you all and are thinking and praying for all of you. Love, Kim, Kent, and Hollie
Unfortunately, the only times that we get together anymore, or to visit, is when one of our families passes away, or some other tragedy. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are always with you, and that the memories of summer vacations, and time at the Lawler farm, will be with us forever. I can still see Keith losing grip of the Shetland pony, and hanging on for dear life, underneath, as it bolted away. That is just one of many, like going down to the hardware store with ‘Uncle Joe’, and then to the pool hall afterwards. He was a good man, and can now be with Signora, forever. God Bless, Kevin & Kim Attleson
Jan, Amanda and Nick, our thoughts are with you during your time of sorrow. Scott, Debby, Tyler and Tanner Christensen.
Michael and Family: I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. My thoughts are with you. Pat Wright
Our deepest condolences to the Goss family. Joe will be dearly missed by many, but his memories will never fade. God bless all his family & may he comfort you during this difficult time.
We will all miss Uncle Joe and his kindness. I have many great (and scary!!) memories of your house. Whenever I was around Joe, he was always laughing. I will always remember the way he laughed. I am glad that all the kids were able to get home to see Joe. Even though it is hard to watch a parent die, there is comfort in knowing that people had their chance to say their goodbyes. Take comfort in that….Love Micki, Tom, Marissa, Drew and Alex Paulsen
Even tho I did not get to see Uncle Joe very often, he always had a special place in my heart. When my mom died he took me in and treated me like one of his kids. (punishment and all) We love you and we’ll miss you….
To the Goss Family, My condolences to Joe’s family. I have great memories of coaching some of Joe and Sig’s kids in little league. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Joe has earned his reward. Pat Murray
To all the Goss family. My deepest sympathies to all of you on the loss of dear Joe. I can imagine Joe and Sig playing cards with Art and Catherine up in heaven. Sincerely, Sharon Huber and family.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I remember Joe when he delivered mail to Dad in Little Turkey. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. This is a difficult time, but I am so glad that all of you got home before your dad passed away. One of the fondest memories I have of Uncle Joe is the Easter egg hunt at Kris’s house when Joe and Leah really hit if off! I have such wonderful pictures of him helping her with the eggs she found and him just holding her on his lap. Take care and God Bless, Julie, Steve, Derek, & Leah Tjepkes
Uncle Joe always had a special place in my heart. Growing up, the Gilberts spent much time in Lawler with the Goss clan, and what fun we had! Joe was always part of the fun. We will miss him greatly. You know I am here for anything that you need.