Lois Delores Gossman

LOIS DELORES GOSSMAN, age 93, of rural Janesville, died on Monday, October 3, 2022, at Whispering Creek in Janesville where she was receiving rehabilitation therapy for a planned return home after developing heart trouble in midsummer.

Born on March 2, 1929, at home in Alton Township to August and Mary (Rudolph) Gottschalk. She first attended country school near the family farm and later attended Trinity Lutheran School in Janesville through 8th grade. Her first job was at EF Johnson Company soldering radios near the end of World War II. During that time she found a recipe for turkey dressing that became a family favorite as she make it for the next 76 Thanksgivings!

On August 22, 1950, Lois was united in marriage to Joseph William Gossman at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Janesville. Together they made their home on their family farm in Freedom Township near Alma City raising their four children. During that time, she continued her education and received her GED at District 77 in Mankato and worked for 20 years at Birds Eye in Waseca.

Lois loved spending time with her family, especially as it grew with grandchildren and great grand children, gathering them together for home cooked meals from her garden and farm. A family highlight of the year was our Epiphany celebration when Grandma would share an abundance of baked, frozen and canned treats. Lois had large flower and vegetable gardens, and enjoyed planting, harvesting and especially keeping them weed free. She was an excellent sewer and mender, making clothes for her children and grandchildren, quilting and keeping her sons in mended overalls. She was essential to the farm operation taking Joe, Dan and Scott to and from fields and making meals and field lunches. She was a Master Gardener in Waseca County for over 11 years and her green thumb was passed on to her daughter Susan Schoenfeld who worked as a horticulturalist for the U of M. Lois volunteered visiting the homebound for over 17 years and was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Janesville, where she was active as a communion minister, quilter and making funeral meals. She remained active with cooking, gardening and sewing well into her 93rd year.

Lois is survived by her children: Sue (Jerry) Schoenfeld of Waseca, Dan Gossman of rural Janesville, Tim (Susan) Gossman of rural Chatfield, and Scott of rural Janesville; grandchildren: Sue’s children: Dacia (Richard) Hinkhouse, Jay Schoenfeld; Dan’s children: Shannon (Steven) Prostrollo, Megan (Joel Nundahl) Gossman, Benjamin Gossman; Tim’s children: Sophia (Martin) Walsh and Sarah (Samuel) Cotton; great-grandchildren: Rosemilla and Alexander Hinkhouse; Joseph, Joshua and Elizabeth Prostrollo; Zachery Gossman, Isaiah and Ethan Kuznia, Wyatt Nundahl; Grace and Elijah Gossman; Ardella Walsh, and Frieda Cotton; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband; siblings: Clifford Gottschalk, Edna (Herbert) Minkel, Irma (Carl) Benson, Herbert (Betty) Gottschalk, and Loren (Gloria) Gottschalk; brother-in-law: Elmer (Marge) Gossman; sisters-in-law: Rosie Gossman and Ruth (Bert) Groeneveld; and a stillborn baby boy.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Monday, October 10, 2022, with a Vigil Prayer Service at 6:45 PM and Rosary recited at 7:00 PM all at the Janesville Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville with Fr. Brian Mulligan as Celebrant. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.