Gary Evan Gossman
February 28, 1938 - April 11, 2021
Gary Evan Gossman age 83 recently of Seattle, WA passed away on April 11, 2021 peacefully at home. Gary was born February 28, 1938 in rural Cresco, IA to Clodius and Helen Gossman, the second oldest of 10 children. He lived in Worthington, MN and moved to Waterloo, IA while young. He graduated from Columbus HS (Waterloo) in 1956 then attended Loras College in Dubuque, IA graduating in 1960. With education being of the utmost importance to Gary and being a lifelong educator, Gary took a job at Kofa High School in 1962 at Yuma AZ. It was a new school that recruited teachers from the Midwest. He taught Latin, Civics, History, Drivers Ed, English, coached several sports and was a very popular and well-respected teacher. He continued his education. Gary married in 1966 raising four daughters and passed on his love of learning and the importance of education to all of them.
Gary was a lifelong member of the Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Planning and Zoning Board in Yuma, AZ and was on various boards and committees both at Kofa High and St. Francis Church while his daughters attended. Gary knew the value of hard work. To support his family, he taught summer school at Kofa and later would paint houses during the summer in the hot Arizona sun. Gary was always proud of the citrus trees in his Yuma backyard and shared produce from the abundant gardens he grew.
Shortly after his retirement from Kofa in 1992, Gary moved back to Iowa. As Gary's grandchildren got older he moved to New Ulm, MN to spend more time with them. He spent countless hours with them and continued his role as educator with the next generation. They were truly his pride and joy and their lives are richer for the time they shared with him. In 2020 he moved to Seattle where two of his daughters live. Gary's wish was always to donate his body to Science. He had arranged and was able to fulfill his wish to donate his body for medical research at the U of Washington. His role as educator will continue.
Gary is survived by his four daughters Ann (Mike) Atzenhoefer, Elaine Gossman, Theresa (Victor) Gossman, Mary Gossman (special friend Joey Balderas). His grandchildren Evan Atzenhoefer (fiancée Emily) and April Atzenhoefer (special friend Thomas). Brothers Claude (Janice), Fr John, Leo, and Jim and sisters Claudette Hill, Sharon (Tom) Fereday, and Leone (Dave) Simpson and sister-in-law Penny Gossman plus many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Elaine, brother Ray, and brother-in-law John Hill.
Gary was a kind, bright, generous, charming and helpful man who had a great sense of humor and was a master storyteller. Most of all he was an amazing son, brother, father, grandfather, teacher, and friend. He was loved by so many and will be missed by all.
A funeral will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cedar Falls, IA on April 30, 2021 at 11:00 am with a burial at some later date. In lieu of flowers, Gary would love you to remember your local library. It was his favorite place to visit.
Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun