Darwin Kenneth Goss, of Warsaw, passed into the presence of Jesus, his Lord and Maker, at 1:23 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, at Wynnfield Crossing Assisted Living in Rochester, at the age of 94. “I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here…'” Revelation 4:1 (NKJV)

Darwin K. Goss

He was born on July 25, 1929, in Savanna, Ill., to Horace Lyle Goss and Florence Bernice (Cook) Goss. He spent his childhood there in the company of his brothers, Don and Wayne, as well as the neighborhood boys. Most of his stories about his childhood involved practical jokes on Plum Creek.

Darwin graduated from Savanna High School in 1947 and one year later married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Louise Nicol, on May 30, 1948. They were blessed with 67 years of marriage before Joyce passed away on Aug. 29, 2015. Darwin and Joyce were partners in life, raising eight children together and enjoyed seeing grandchildren and great-grandchildren come into the world. He loved to see the increasing generations of his offspring gathered.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing. If the dog was on the trail of a racoon in the middle of the night, he would grab the shotgun and join the pursuit. He’d love to tell the story the next day at the Feed Store where he started out as an employee, then part owner and later sole proprietor. Darwin’s favorite fishing hole was on the mighty Mississippi River and like any other fisherman, he would tell you he didn’t get out nearly as many times as he would have liked.

Darwin enjoyed farming. He hatched some baby chicks under a heat lamp in his bathroom when he was a boy, and he later said that he knew then that he had to be a farmer. Although he never owned his own farm, he worked in the industry for most of his life.

His eight surviving children would all attest that he taught them to work hard and “keep your nose clean.” He was as generous as he could be with his finances and on more than one occasion bought food, filled gas tanks or delivered fuel oil knowing he would not get paid for it. Darwin was a man of strong convictions. He had an unshakable faith in God and was deeply concerned that others, especially his children and grandchildren, should share his faith.

He leaves behind eight of his nine children, Ken (Sherry) Goss, Clarkston, Mich.; Greg (Eunice) Goss, Portage, Mich.; Sharon (Henry) Duncan, Union, Ky.; Larry (Kris) Goss, Etna Green; Cathy (Tony) Webb, West Alexandria, Ohio; Beth (John) Polsean, Syracuse; Andy (Michele) Goss, Warsaw; and Jon (Serena) Goss, Warsaw. Also surviving are 26 grandchildren (16 spouses), and 51 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Nicol Goss; his first stillborn daughter, Judy Louise Goss; grandson-in-law, Capt. Justin (Patty Goss Peterson Harvey) Peterson; and two brothers, Donald and Wayne Goss.

Darwin’s life will be celebrated with a service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at Bourbon Bible Church, 2002 12th Road, Bourbon, and officiated by Pastor Larry Goss. Friends and family may visit an hour prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. at Bourbon Bible Church. A graveside service will follow at Harrison Center Cemetery in Etna Green. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.

Memorial donations may be directed to Lakeland Christian Academy, 1093 S. 250E, Winona Lake, IN 46590, to go toward the elementary school.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.