Gossen, Minnie May 1908-1994

GOSSEN, REYNOLDS, SMITH, ESLER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/17/2011 at 09:36:25

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; May 16, 1994

MINNIE MAY GOSSEN

Minnie May Gossen, 86, of Grinnell died Friday, May 13, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Funeral services were conducted Monday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. James S. Barge, pastor of the United Church of Christ-Congregational, officiating. Organist was Alice Renaud. Pallbearers were Tim Armstrong, Dusty Hamilton, Dan Sears, David Sears, Bill Vosburg and Marvin Wilson. Honorary bearers were Kenny Halstead, Kirk Halstead, Don Hamilton, Keith Vosburg, Fred White and James White. Burial was in Hazelwood Cemetery.

The daughter of William Cross and Bertha Ann Reynolds Smith, she was born March 3, 1908, in Grinnell where she was raised and received her education. She was a 1926 graduate of Grinnell High School. Following her graduation she worked as a secretary for the local superintendent of schools and also worked at Grinnell Washing Machine Co. She later moved to Toledo where she worked for Iowa Power and Light Co.

She was married to William M. Gossen May 4, 1935, in Grinnell. The couple lived in Grinnell where she worked for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co. and the Congregational Christian Conference. She later worked for the Grinnell College Alumni Office until her retirement in 1975.

She was a member of the Grinnell United Church of Christ-Congregational, past noble grand of Rebekah Lodge No. 119, past president of Chapter Iowa AU of the National TTT Society, and a member of the Soroptimist Club.

Surviving are her son, Lynn Gossen of Belle Plaine; two grandsons; and one sister, Wilma Esler of Grinnell. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Herbert and Stanley Smith; one sister in infancy; and two grandchildren.