Deb Gosch, age 66 of Auburn, IA, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by her family.
Debra Ann McClintock was born on March 4, 1955, to parents Forrest and Melvina (Dahlman) McClintock in Sac City, IA. She grew up on a farm in Lake View, where she also attended school. Deb graduated from Lake View-Auburn High School with the class of 1973. While in high school, Deb participated in basketball as well as track, which she qualified for state in. She was baptized and confirmed in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Lake View. When Deb was just 18 years of age her mother, Melvina, passed away. She quickly took over the caregiving role to little sister Connie. This was such a natural thing for Deb, wanting to give of herself by caring for others. After she graduated high school, she entered into the nursing program at Des Moines Area Community College where she obtained her LPN degree.
On July 25, 1975, Deb married her high school sweetheart, Mark Edward Gosch, in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Auburn. This union was blessed with two sons, Jason and Jeremy. Together they raised their family on a farm outside of Auburn. Deb worked as Dr. Ihler’s nurse for over thirty years at McCrary-Rost Clinic in Lake City, IA. She loved her job and the patients she cared for over all of those years, loved her right back. Deb was a one-of-a-kind caring, compassionate, hardworking, and devoted nurse. When Dr. Ihler retired, Deb then worked at various nursing homes and was currently working at Regency Park in Carroll. She of course could have retired by now but just wasn’t quite ready to give it up. Caring for others, whether it be patients or family and friends, brought her the absolute greatest joy.
Besides being an amazing nurse, Deb was an even more wonderful wife, mom, and grandma. She was simply devoted deeply to everything she did and everyone in her life. She worked on the farm right alongside Mark when she was able to. Deb always had a large vegetable garden that meant a lot of canning come the end of summer. She loved the beauty of butterflies and adored her cats.
Deb had a love for plants, both indoors and outdoors, but didn't always have a ‘green thumb’. In December of 1999, Deb and Mark lost their youngest son, Jeremy, to Leukemia. Many plants and flowers were sent to them in remembrance of him which then meant a house full to take care of. It was then that she started to really enjoy caring for plants and became very good at doing so. In fact, a new addition to their house quickly became her very own greenhouse of sorts. She enjoyed taking care of them and watching them grow because once again, that’s just what Deb did with everything and everyone.
Deb served on the Sac County Board of Health for many years and was also an active member of the Ladies Guild at St. Mary’s. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing cards, spending as much time as she could with her family, and just loved being outdoors on the farm.
Everything about Deb will be greatly missed….her smile, her laugh, her warm caring ways, her dedication to her family, friends, and her work….all of it. May the memories she made with everyone as she lived her earthly life be held close to all those that know and love her.
Left behind to cherish her memory are her husband of 47 years, Mark Gosch of Auburn, IA; son Jason (Kristi) Gosch of Auburn, IA; grandchildren: Maggie Gosch of Arcadia, IA, Shelbi Langford of Des Moines, IA, and Dakota Langford of Des Moines, IA; sister Connie Meyer (Brian Grundmeier) of Carroll, IA; brothers-in-law John (Sheila) Gosch of St. Johns, AZ, and Rich (Sandra) Gosch of Ormand By The Sea, FL; sisters-in-law: Eleanor Olerich of Wall Lake, IA, Betty (Vern) Riesselman of Halbur, IA, Mary (Carl) Snyder of Breda, IA, Ruth (Mike) Leiker of Hays, KS, Joan (Jose) Hernandez of Omaha, NE, Jan (Daryl) Mandel of Omaha, NE, Pat Gosch of Carroll, IA, Teri Hogan of Lubbock, TX, Norma Gosch of Carroll, IA, Joyce Gosch of CO, and Mary Gosch of Omaha, NE; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members, and friends.
Deb was preceded in death by her son, Jeremy Gosch; parents Forrest and Melvina; parents-in-law Alfred and Alice Gosch; brothers-in-law Fred, Mick, and Robert Gosch, and Francis Olerich.
