Alphonse Gossling

Alphonse Gossling, 79, of Ossian passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2017, at his home in rural Ossian. 

Alphonse John, the son of John and Auguste (Hartmann) Gossling, was born August 2, 1937, on a farm near Festina. 

He attended St. Mary’s Parochial School in Festina.

Alphonse was united in marriage with Beverly Ann Beer on April 3, 1961, at St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church in Ossian. Alphonse and Beverly raised their family and farmed south of Ossian for 55 years.

Alphonse served on the Co-op Board, the DeSales School Board, Parish Council, and was the chairman of the finance committee to build the new church.

He enjoyed reading, visiting, bus trips, and in his younger years, baseball, fishing, and hunting. Alphonse had a gentle spirit; his greatest passions were farming and being outdoors. During retirement, he tended chickens and loved his dogs. Above all, he cherished his family, especially his grandchildren.

Alphonse is survived by his wife, Beverly, of Ossian, Iowa; six children, Terry (Karla) Gossling of West Union, Iowa; Kathy (Don) Hageman of Ossian, Iowa; Lyle Gossling of Decorah, Iowa; Mark (Kim) Gossling of Decorah, Iowa; Brian (Jayna) Gossling of Johnston, Iowa; and Kari (Kurt) Straube of Calmar, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, Jonathan and Anthony Gossling, Scott and Paul Hageman, Courtney (Sam) Hogenson, Monica and Jacob Gossling, and Grant, Anna, and Evan Gossling; and his siblings, Marie Tieskoetter of Ossian, Iowa; Martin (Margaret) Gossling of Fort Atkinson, Iowa; Norbert (Darlene) Gossling of Waucoma, Iowa; and Sister Maryam Gossling, F.S.P.A. of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Alphonse was preceded in death by his parents, John and Auguste; siblings and their spouses, Theresa and Alvin Myers, Rita and Robert Gebel, Frank Tieskoetter; and his parents-in-law, Louis and Elma Beer.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 7, 2017, at St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church in Ossian. Rev. Robert Gross was the celebrant.

Friends called on Friday, January 6, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian and one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

A private family inurnment will be held at a later date in St. Francis DeSales Cemetery, Ossian, Iowa.

Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian, Iowa helped the family with the arrangements.        2u2