Gossman, Duane K. (1928-2012)
GOSSMAN, KAIPUST, ARNDT, NEILON, PENNING, KEMMERER, ROBERTS
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/6/2013 at 22:03:11
Duane K. Gossman
April 11, 1928 - December 27, 2012THOMPSON - Duane Gossman, 84, of Thompson, died Thursday, December 27, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City.
Duane was born in Shell Creek Township, near Platt Center, Nebraska, on April 11th, 1928, to Leo and Julia (Kaipust) Gossman. The only son, he had three older sisters, Ivona, Marjorie, and Evelyn, and two younger sisters, Arlene and Phyllis. In 1944 when Duane was 16, the family moved to a farm that his father had purchased five miles southwest of Thompson. Duane became integrally tied to the farm and its upkeep. He did not return to school, but devoted his time to improving the property and assisting his father.
He met Lila M. Arndt at a skating rink in Blue Earth. Lila later moved to an apartment in Thompson, and eventually the two married on June 7th, 1950, at the Rectory of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Buffalo Center. To this union were born five children, Duane Jr., Bridget, Diane, Linda, and Kent. They remained on the family farm, moving briefly across the section until his parents retired from farming at which point they returned, and Duane remained there the rest of his life. After his parents' deaths, Duane purchased part of the original acreage. The family milked cows, raised chickens, beef, hogs, and engaged in any other animal enterprise at which Duane felt he could excel. This activity he used to instill a solid work-ethic in his children and a strong sense of values.
An enterprising jack-of-all-trades and a self-taught handyman in whatever he chose to do, Duane especially liked mechanical projects. Along with full-time farming, he also had a variety of other jobs. A self-employed mechanic in a business he called Duke's Service, he worked part-time for many years at Van Horn's in Buffalo Center as well as at Winnebago Industries as a delivery driver. For farmers in the area, he did both custom combining and corn shelling. After selling off most of his farm animals, he took a job at Pamida as well as one at Casey's. In addition, he drove school bus for Forest City Schools. Everywhere he went, he had an uncanny knack for striking up conversations with people he didn't know, a trait he found especially enjoyable when he frequented area casinos.
His hobbies included collecting antiques and collectable cars, fixing and repairing vintage tractors, riding motorcycles, repairing appliances, and rebuilding automobiles. He also would custom build trailers from scratch, doing most of the calculations in his head, some quite elaborate and complicated in scope. Possessing a wealth of knowledge, he told many stories including keepers passed down by his father such as "Watch your pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves".
Duane is survived by four children, Bridget (Jerry Hanson) Neilon, of Northwood, Diane Penning, of Byron, Minnesota, Linda (Mark) Kemmerer, of Clear Lake, and Kent (Terry Welsh) Gossman, of Renton, Washington; ten grandchildren: Michael, Dawn, Wade, Brianne, Brandon, Brett, Trevor, Mitchell, Kyla, and Morgan; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Marjorie, Evelyn, and Phyllis; his son, Duane (Bud) Jr.; his grandson, Jarrett Roberts, and a special friend Shirley.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark Street, Forest City, with Fr. Dennis Miller of St. James Catholic Church officiating.
Inurnment will be in the spring at Graceland Cemetery in Buffalo Center.
Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 3:00 PM, Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home.Copyright © 2012, Petersen Lund Funeral Home
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