Obituary: Marjorie (Marge) Mathilda Gosz

1935 – 2025

Marge saw caring for her family as her greatest accomplishment and her most important contribution to society. It’s not just what she did. It’s who she was. She was the heartbeat of the home she shared with her husband Bob for 64 ½ years. Her principal occupation was a homemaker and caregiver – the toughest job ever.

Marge was born to William and Dorothy (Malamphy) Vollmer (Hilbert) on May 19, 1935. She had three sisters: Carmen, Sandra “Bunny” and Colleen “Chickie.” Her only brother was Robert Vollmer. Tragically, Carmen was killed in a car accident at 17 years old. Marge often talked about the very brief relationship she was able to have with her sister, Carmen.

Growing up in Hilbert, WI, Marge started to cultivate her caregiver skills already in high school. She worked as a live-in nanny for Les Suttner. She also worked at Manz drug store during high school. Marge was a basketball cheerleader at Hilbert High School. She also held the title of “best in shorthand.” Marge met one of her dearest friends for life, Elaine Shomisch, while she lived in Hilbert.

After high school, Marge worked as a receptionist at Kaytee in Chilton (1954-1956). While at Kaytee, she befriended Agnes (Aggie) Mueller and Marian Rohrdanz, two cherished lifelong friends.

On July 28, 1956, Marge married her handsome “farm boy” from Greenleaf – Bob Gosz. He drove from Greenleaf to Hilbert every night during their courtship and was clearly smitten with her. She was truly a beauty inside and out. Bob and Marge moved to Brillion where they set up their homestead for the next 64 ½ years. They were blessed with 6 sons and 2 daughters. There was 13 years and 5 boys in between the two girls…needless to say she was so very happy when a second daughter finally came along.

While her husband Bob was working day and night at Jentink Chevrolet and Oldsmobile, Marge was holding things down on the domestic front. She was the chief home officer. Marge also worked endless hours. Marge took great pride in the organization and cleanliness of her home. She always said “things don’t work in chaos.” Her household, children, and husband occupied her mind and her heart the majority of her waking hours. It required as much creativity, discipline, intelligence, skill and hard work as any job on the outside. Marge was very capable in her role as a homemaker. Bob and Marge made a great team. They were equally supportive of each other.

Marge was also a volunteer on the playground at St. Mary’s school while her kids were growing up.

Marge always made lunch for Bob when he came home from the garage. She had a hot supper on the table for him every night. She canned his abundant garden harvests including, pickles, beets, cherries, and apples. She baked his squash, cooked his green beans, and made his favorite cucumber salad. Marge’s specialties were spare ribs and sauerkraut, German potato salad, scalloped potatoes, and baked beans. She also enjoyed baking cakes, tortes, and breads.

The whole family very much enjoyed fry outs in the backyard, camping adventures, bonfires and gardening at their beloved “woods” and cherry picking in Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor. Marge and her family took short overnight road trips to Chicago, Indiana, and Kentucky to visit Bob’s sisters and the cousins.

Collecting dolls, especially Marie Osmond dolls, was one of Marge’s hobbies. She also loved collecting and tending to her fresh plants like African Violets, Bleeding Hearts, and Hostas.

One of Marge’s greatest enjoyments in life was shopping trips with her two daughters Jenny & Mary and eating out in a restaurant after. She treasured all the collectibles she would buy for her curio and also she so loved burning scented candles.

She also loved to hang her freshly laundered wash out on the clothes line to dry. The two family cats Vinnie & Alli gave her a lot of pleasure.

Being a helpful and devoted grandmother was important to Marge. She babysat Bob Jr’s kids and dog Squirt close to every Saturday night. Grandma Margie was short on criticism and long on love. She always had time to talk and make her grandchildren feel special – unconditional love. There was no place like home except grandmas. She had 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Marge went to see her mother, Dorothy, in Hilbert every Friday. She drove her favorite car “silver bells” an 89 Olds Delta 88 Royale. She helped her elderly mom out by raking leaves, cleaning her house, washing windows, vacuuming, and cleaning her oven/microwave. After the chores were complete, she took her sister “Chickie” & Dorothy to Terry Albers establishment and the bowling alley for a bite to eat and a brew. Her sister “Bunny” also lived in the Hilbert area and they enjoyed sitting out in each other’s backyards and having a few beers. Marge also looked up to her only brother, Bob Vollmer, and cherished their visits and phone conversations.

There were a few “firsts” in Marge’s life that she always boasted about. 1. Taking her first (and only) airplane with Mary to Boston to see her daughter Jenny’s first born baby, Ashley. 2. Voting in the 2020 presidential election for the first time in her life.

Marge enjoyed the smell of soup simmering, meat browning, and bread baking. Most of all she loved to sit down with her family and laugh and talk and linger over a home cooked meal. She made the home comfortable and cozy and warm. She created a place that was peaceful, inviting, and well…homey. Boy, are we gonna miss you Mom.

If roses grow in heaven, Lord please pick a bunch for us. Place them in our mother’s arms and tell her they’re from us. Tell her we love and miss her and when she turns to smile, place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for a while. Because remembering her is easy, we do it every day, but there’s an ache within our heart that will never go away. We love you mom.

Survivors include her children: Jenny (Jim) Pierson, Oconomowoc, Gary Gosz, Bob Jr. (Lori) Gosz, Bruce Gosz, Pat (Jodi) Gosz, all of Brillion, Marilee (Dan) Aerts, Darboy, Bill Gosz, Green Bay; her grandchildren: Crystal (Dustin) Becker, Kimberly, Amber (Kevin) Jackson, Kimberly, Ashley (Jeremy) Wojtecki, Dousman, Sydney (Alex) Yde, Madison, Alyssa Veum (special friend Travis) Brillion, McKenna Aerts, Denver, Co., Kirsten Aerts, Darboy, Josh Gosz, Brillion, Preston (Brianna) Pierson, Hinesville, GA; and nine great grandchildren: Addison & Brooks Becker, Keyonce & Kiavonni Jackson, Alexis, Mackenzie, Jack & Everly Wojtecki and Blake Yde. Also surviving is a brother Robert (Julie) Vollmer, Appleton and sisters-in-law: Clara Long and Martha Johnson. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents: William and Dorothy (Malamphy) Vollmer; her husband: Robert Gosz on October 25, 2020; a son: Kevin Gosz; siblings: Colleen “Chickie” Vollmer, Carmen Vollmer, Sandra “Bunny” (Jerry) Van Cuyk; her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Ed & Mary Gosz and in-laws: Mildred (Norman) Bradl, Helen (Robert) DeValk, Dan (Eleanor) Gosz, Clarence (Helen) Gosz, Edward (Betty) Gosz, Herbie Gosz, Eugene Gosz and Cindy (Earl) Nienhaus.

Private family funeral services were held and burial occurred at Holy Family Catholic Cemetery, Brillion.

Online condolences may be made at www.pielhop.com

The Pielhop Funeral Homes of Brillion & Reedsville are assisting the family with funeral arrangements.the family with funeral arrangements.