Marie E. Gosch, 87, of Mapleton, surrounded by her family went to her heavenly home Monday, July 10, 2006. She was residing at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Mapleton.

Marie Eleanore (Christiansen) Gosch was born on a farm east of Mapleton on Aug. 5, 1918, to Bernard and Eleanore (Clausen) Christiansen.

She married Lawrence Gosch on Sept. 11, 1935, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ute, Iowa, by the Rev. Elmer Widman. To this union, four children were born, Wayne, Ladean, Gordon and infant Debra. The couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Sept. 11, 2005.

They started farming on the Gosch farm in Ute and bought a farm in 1945 northwest of Mapleton. In 1956 and 1957, she worked as a nurse's aid at the Lutheran Hospital in Sioux City. In 1963, they bought a house and moved into Mapleton. In 1964, they bought the C.P. Barton Hardware Store. In 1977, they retired from the hardware business. She then worked at Maple Valley School as a kitchen aid.

She was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, where she served on the Altar Guild and Cradle Roll for many years.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 70 years, Lawrence of Mapleton; two sons and their wives, Wayne and Myrna of Mapleton and Gordon and Debra of Newcastle, Calif.; a daughter and her husband, Ladean and Warren Baird of Moville, Iowa; grandchildren and spouses, Beth (Baird) and David Seggerman, Brenda (Gosch) and Mark Schaben, Denise Gosch, Douglas and Erin Baird and Kevin and Suzie Gosch; nine great-grandchildren, Nicole, Tyler, Justin, Jared, Marissa, Alex, Lexie, Cambria and Camrin; and two brothers and their wives, Robert and Evelyn Christiansen of Mapleton and Elmer and Dee Christiansen of Hutchinson, Kan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Debra; a great-grandson, Kyle Schaben; three sisters, Margaret Christiansen, Mrs. Roy (Adeline) Namanny and Mrs. Louis (Mahela) Meyer; and a brother in infancy.

Marie will always be remembered for her kindness and her beautiful flowers.