| Notes |
- FLORENTINE RATZLAFF GOOSSEN OBITUARY
Our mother, Florentine Ratzlaff Goossen passed away early Friday morning, September 22, 1989, at Salem Home in Hillsboro after an illness of nine months.
Florentine was born October 17, 1904, in Lilewa, province of Volynia, Poland, Russia, to Andreas and Susanna Wedel Ratzlaff. At the age of two she immigrated with the family to America and lived in Marion County, Kansas the years since then. On October 19, 1924, she was married to John D. Goossen and they shared life together on the farm near Lehigh, and east of Hillsboro. To them were seven children who happily grew up at the farm and country schools. Her husband passed away 25 years ago in February
1964, after which time she lived in her own home on her daughter Alvena's farm.
Mama found pleasure and fulfillment in caring for her family and excelled in her cooking and sewing. We feel well-endowed with our hearts filled with memories of her loving and caring ways. For us she made warm comforters, pillows, braided rugs and crocheted items which we use and treasure. She saw the beauty of nature and admired the handiworks of God every changing season. She loved songs and poetry and would copy them into her own books to occupy long hours. She read many books for spiritual nurture and daily read in her Bible to find the Lord's guidance and peace. Her countless prayers on our behalf
inspired us also to live a Christian life in faith and love. After becoming so ill she humbly accepted her
sufferings, knowing it was to be her pathway into her heavenly home and life everlasting.
She leaves to mourn her children and their families: Alvena and Wilbert Bartel of Hillsboro; Ruben Goossen, Ava, Missouri; Anton and Linda Goossen, Ava, Missouri; Della and Howard Kaiser, Wichita; Raymond and Sun Cha Goossen, Farmington, New Mexico; Alfred and Donna Goossen, Farmington, New Mexico. A son Johnny died in April, 1963, and a great-granddaughter, Emily Bartel, also preceded her in death. Those surviving from her family are three brothers: Albert Ratzlaff and Abe Ratzlaff of Goessel and Isaac Ratzlaff of Hesston. There are 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren who have fond memories of "Grossmom".
Grave side service and burial took place in the afternoon of September 22, 1989. Her family and a few close friends attended. It was a windy day, which was a reminder of her as she always liked windy days.
She was buried next to her husband on the Haven of Rest Cemetery east of Hillsboro, Kansas.
(Info from www.fmgoossenfamily.com)
|
1904 - 1989 (84 years)
