Joyce L. Nicol Goss, 86, Warsaw, passed into the presence of Jesus, her Lord and Maker, at 2:45 p.m. Aug. 29, 2015, at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw. She was born April 5, 1929, in Arenzville, Ill., to Albert and Ida Nobis Nicol. On May 30, 1948, she married her high school sweetheart, Darwin Goss, who survives. They were together for 67 years. She was 16 when her German Lutheran family moved to the big city of Savanna, Ill., to operate the Nicol Sand Company. She loved it there because Savanna boasted a department store, dime store and movie theater. She graduated from Savanna High School in 1947. She was an uptown girl married to a boy from the other side of the tracks. He didn’t buy her many things, but she followed him on adventures across two continents. She was resourceful with what she had, raising chickens, cooking family meals over an open wood stove, doctoring her children on the kitchen table, sewing their clothes, and still finding time and energy to bake and decorate special request birthday cakes. She nurtured five boys and three girls with selfless patience, upheld by her unshakable faith in God, who was always her Fortress. She took great pleasure in her ever-growing family. Children led to grandchildren then great-grandchildren. She prayed for each of them by name. She also leaves a legacy of faithfulness to her husband and to her God, which continues to influence the lives of her 89 descendants and will stretch for generations to come. Also surviving are, three siblings: Wilbur Nicol, Shannon, Ill.; Muriel Buck and Shirley Ritchie, both of Savanna Ill.; eight children: Ken (and spouse Sherry) Goss, Clarkston, Mich.; Greg (and spouse Eunice) Goss, Kent City, Mich.; Sharon (and spouse Henry) Duncan, Modesto, Calif.; Larry (and spouse Kris) Goss, Etna Green; Cathy (and spouse Tony) Webb, Johnstown, Ohio; Beth (and spouse John) Polsean, Syracuse; Andy (and spouse Michele) Goss and Jon (and spouse Serena) Goss, all of Warsaw; 26 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three siblings, Lee and Dwight Nicol and Albert Nicol Jr.; her first stillborn daughter, Judy Louise Goss; and Captain Justin (Patty Goss Peterson Harvey) Peterson. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bourbon Bible Church, 2002 12th Road, Bourbon, with Dr. Tony Webb officiating. Burial is in Harrison Center Cemetery, Etna Green. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church. King Memorial Home, Mentone, is entrusted with arrangements. ***** Memorials to Warsaw Christian School, 909 S. Buffalo St, Warsaw, IN 46580. Condolences via www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com
