Harvey Leon Gossman was born on October 18, 1943, in Columbus, Nebraska, to William Earl and Pearl Minnie (Sprunk) Gossman. He died on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at CHI Health Center in Corning, Iowa, at the age of 82.
Harvey grew up in north central Iowa near Thompson, attending a rural school before graduating from Thompson High School in 1961. He then served six years in the Army National Guard.
On December 23, 1972, he was united in marriage to Judy Daughenbaugh at Highland United Methodist Church north of Fontanelle, Iowa. They had four children: Chad, Jay, Tonya, and Tim. The couple first lived in North Central Iowa before moving to Massena in 1978 after purchasing their farm.
Harvey was a farmer in every sense of the word. Season after season, he devoted his life to farming, a vocation he carried with pride and perseverance. He enjoyed his livestock, especially his cattle. Like most farmers, he checked the weather multiple times a day and had great respect for Jim Flowers, an Omaha meteorologist. He had a strong work ethic, which was something he also instilled in his children.
Harvey was a member of the Massena United Methodist Church. He served on the Massena Co-op board in the 1980s and helped establish Massena C-Store, which he frequented later in life for his morning cup of coffee.
Harvey was a proud grandfather who enjoyed going to his grandkids’ sporting events and school activities. He especially loved spending time on the farm with them.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Pearl Gossman; father- and mother-in-law, Sam and Elaine Daughenbaugh; brother, Kenneth Gossman; sister, Mary Ann Voortmann; and brother-in-law, Clarence Voortmann.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Gossman of Massena; his children, Chad (Holly) Gossman of Davenport, Iowa, Jay (Marie) Gossman of Afton, Iowa, Tonya Lilienthal of Omaha, Nebraska, Michael Lilienthal of Omaha, Nebraska, and Tim (Cindy) Gossman of Massena; ten cherished grandchildren—Caleb (Bailey), Mason, Callie (Garrett), Kylie, Blake, Lydia, Jacie, Jaxon, Ethan, and Aiden—and one great-grandchild, Ensley. He is also survived by his sister, Karen (Terry) Rodberg of Joice, Iowa; brother-in-law Alan (Sara) Daughenbaugh of Greenfield, Iowa; sister-in-law Kathy (Gary) Erlandson of Greenfield, Iowa; and many other beloved relatives and friends.
Funeral Services: Will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Massena United Methodist Church with burial in the Victoria Township Cemetery, south of Massena with full military graveside rites by the Anita American Legion Post No. 210.. A luncheon will be held at the Massena United Methodist Church following the burial. The Lamb Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.
Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Massena from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Omaha, Nebraska.
