Norman Gosch was born in Manilla, Iowa, the son of Emil and Mamie (nee) Wegner Gosch.
He attended school in Manilla up to and including the 3rd grade.
His father passed away when Norman was approaching his 10th birthday. The family then moved to various locations and his schooling continued in country schools in Crawford and Carroll counties.
In 1940, Norman’s uncle Eddie Wegner (known as Slim) needed help on his farm.
This farm was one mile on the road south of the Hausbarn.
Norman lived with Eddie and Verna, drove tractor, team of horses and did various chores around the farm. He had an exclusion from the draft because he was needed on the farm.
In the winter time he worked in the Swift meat packing plant in Omaha, staying with his Uncle Otto Gosch.
In 1946 he was drafted and entered the army on February 6. After basic training he was on a ship heading out to what was rumored to be Okinawa, but ended up in Korea.
He served with the 31st Infantry there, serviced, operated and made minor repairs on 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 ton military trucks. He also transported equipment and supplies in varying weather conditions on all kinds of roads as well as performing guard duty.
He was discharged on April 1, 1947, with the rank of Private First Class and went back to the Wegner farm to work and to the packing plant in Omaha in the wintertime.
A local Manning girl, Patricia Siem, daughter of Pete and Elsie Siem, then came into his life and even spent time on the Wegner farm helping with household duties. Upon her graduation from high school, she enrolled at Valparaiso University in Indiana. Norman eventually moved to Valparaiso, and after Pat’s graduation from college, they were married on September 9, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Pat had a job in the athletic department at the University and Norman was employed in Valparaiso, so they made their home in Indiana. There were 3 daughters born to this marriage. Pat died suddenly in 1976 at the young age of 46.
10:00 a.m. Saturday June 26, 2010 Fairfield Bay United
Methodist Church 765 Dave Creek Parkway Fairfield Bay, Arkansas 72088
Officiating Lay Speaker Ruthann Mueller
Choir Director Vincent Biondi
Organist/Pianist Phyllis Carter
PRELUDE Organist
GATHERING Paul Mueller
THE WORD OF GRACE Ruthann Mueller
GREETING PASTORAL PRAYER PSALM 23 Unison
HYMN God Will Take Care of You No, 130
OLD TESTAMENT ISAIAH 40:1-5, 28-31 Paul Mueller
OBITUARY
SPECIAL MUSIC Be Still, My Soul Chancel Choir
WITNESS NEW TESTAMENT ROMANS 8:1-6 Paul Mueller
GOSPEL COLOSSIANS 3:18-25 Paul Mueller
HOMILY Ruthann Mueller
THE LORD'S PRAYER Unison
DISMISSAL Ruthann Mueller
POSTLUDE Organist
Norman W. Gosch, age 84, passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife, Janet, three daughters, Karen, Lizabeth, and Mary, two step-children, James Squire and Jane Shore; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers and their families, Roger of Rockwell City, Iowa, and Clem of California and Guatemala City.
He was born in Manilla, Iowa, spent his youth and teen age years in Manning and attended schools in Crawford and Carroll Counties.
In 1946 he was drafted in the Army and served in Korea with the 31st Infantry.
After being discharged, he went back to work on the farm. He eventually married Patricia Siem and moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, after Patricia graduated from Valparaiso University. Patricia suddenly died at the age of 46.
Norman worked as a yard foreman at a large lumber yard for 22 years and retired in October of 1987.
Shortly after moving to Fairfield Bay, he began training as an ambulance driver for the Fairfield Bay Rescue Squad. He retired from this volunteer job after serving once a week for 12 years.
He also kept busy as a handyman and yard man for many of the residents in Fairfield Bay.
Memorials may be made to the Fairfield Bay Rescue Squad, Heifer International or the Alzheimer's Association.
Norman Gosch
Memorial services will be held at the Fairfield Bay United Methodist Church on June 26, and will be held at the Graceland Chapel in Valparaiso, Indiana on Saturday, July 10th. Memorials may be made to the Fairfield Bay Rescue Squad, Heifer International, or Alzheimers Association.
Norman William Gosch, son of Emil and Mamie (Wegner) Gosch, was born September 27, 1925, in Manilla, Iowa. He spent his youth in the Manilla and Manning area and attended schools in Crawford and Carroll Counties, Iowa. Norman worked on the Wegner family farm south of Aspinwall during his teen years. He then worked for Eddie "Slim" Wegner south of Manning until he was drafted into the Army in 1946. He served with the 31st Infantry Regiment in Korea and was discharged in 1948. He then went back to the farm and worked at an Omaha meat packing plant in the winter.
Norman and Patricia Siem of Manning, were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning on September 9, 1951. They made their home in Valparaiso, Indiana, where Pat had attended Valparaiso University and they became the parents of three daughters: Karen, Lizabeth, and Mary. Patricia died suddenly at the age of 46 in 1976.
In July of 1977, Norman married long-time family friend, Janet Squire. Janet's two children, James and Jane, brought two more children into his blended family. Norman worked for 22 years as a yard foreman for a local lumber yard. After retirement, Norman and Janet moved to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas which has been their home to the present day. Norman never retired from work. He was a driver on the local volunteer rescue squad serving once a week for 12 years. He volunteered at the local recycling center and also helped many residents with their yard work and minor household repairs. He also returned to Iowa every fall to assist his brother with the fall harvest near Rockwell City, Iowa.
Norman passed away on June 9, 2010, at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife, Janet; three daughters, Karen, Lizabeth, and Mary; two stepchildren, James Squire and Jane Shore; eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren; two brothers, Roger Gosch of Rockwell City, Iowa, and Clement Gosch of California and Guatamala in addition to cousins and many friends.