Date of Birth:
Thursday, September 6, 1962
Date of Death:
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Age:
51 years old

Joanne Kathleen Gosha

Joanne Kathleen Gosha, 51, passed away peacefully at Season’s Hospice, September 7^th, 2013, with her loving husband at her side.  She had battled metastatic carcinoma since January, 2013.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 10:00 am at The Church of the Savior in Rochester, with Pastor Bob Johnson officiating.  Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetary following the service. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 from 4:00pm to 7:00 pm in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Joanne was born on September 6^th,  1962 in Rochester to Kenneth and Karen(Corkill) Smith.  She was babtized on February 24^th, 1963 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester. She attended schools in Rochester and graduated from Mayo High School  in 1982.  While in high school, she worked part time at the Country Kitchen and the Ranch restaurants.   In 1984, she started an in home daycare service which she ran for three years.  On March 3, 1986, she married Richard Davidson in Chatfield, MN.  He passed away on December 20, 1993.  In December, 1994, she met Dave Gosha, and they were married on February 14, 1996, and have made their home in Rochester ever since. In 1988, she started her career with Hardee’s fast foods, and worked her way into management for the downtown and south stores.  She continued with Hardee’s until resigning in 1994, when she pursued her passion for house cleaning, starting her own business. She maintained several clients over the years, and her clients became very close friends as well.  She treated their homes as if they were her own.  She also did house sitting and dog sitting for a select few.  Unfortunately, after her diagnosis in 2013, she had to retire from her business, but her clients remained loyal and true to her. In her earlier years, Joanne enjoyed boating and swimming on the Zumbro river with her aunts, uncles, & cousins; camping; fishing; and playing pool.  She had a strong passion for collecting any and all forms of deer memorabilia, having hundreds of pieces throughout the house.  She enjoyed playing bingo, listening to music, cooking, taking pictures, and gardening.   She was blessed  with a green thumb, having been able to grow and care for numerous different types of plants and flowers.  She also enjoyed watching the deer come into the back yard, and the different birds feeding everyday.  She loved her dogs, Shilo and Lazar, and her cat, Fluffy, calling them her “babies. “ Her biggest joy came from spending time with her grandchildren. “Gramma JoJo” as all of them called her, would spoil them whenever she could get by with it.  Family was also a very important part of her life.  She was a very hard working, straight to the point, kind, always willing to help, generous and loving individual with a heart of gold, who will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her. Joanne is survived by her husband, Dave; children :  William (Billy) Smith, Rochester, MN.

Krystal Davidson, Chatfield, MN., Jacob (Jacy Mlenar) Davidson, Kasson, MN.,  Mitch (Jessie)

Gosha, Virginia Beach, VA., Scott (Jeanette Petersen)Gosha, Mankato, MN., & Jennifer (Jesse Roth) Gosha, Rochester, MN.  Parents:  Karen & Harvey Cotton, and Kenneth & Joyce Smith of Rochester, MN. brothers:  Dwayne Smith and Joseph (Joey) Smith of Rochester, MN, sister: Kelly Kunz, Shakopee, MN., several nieces and nephews,  great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins;

Grand children:  Jameson Olson, D’Andre (Bubba) Williams, Kylie Jo, Dominic & Danika Davidson, Brandon Marza, Samantha Gosha, Jonathon Petersen, Tristan Gosha, Reichle Cox, Leslee Schneckloth, and Lennon Gosha. She was preceded in death by her sister, Diana Polikowski and infant brother, Lance Smith; Maternal Grandparents, Richard & Charlotte Corkill; Paternal Grandparents, Valentine & Ella Smith, and several cousins. The family wishes to thank the Mayo Clinic Oncology department, the Mayo Hospice team, and Season’s Hospice for their kindness, caring, and unequaled compassion while Joanne was their patient.  A very special “Thank You” to Dr. Ashish Chintakuntlawar, Joanne’s primary oncologist, for his genuine compassion and thoughtfulness while caring for her. Memorials are suggested to the BookerMini Foundation, the Eagles Cancer Telethon, or to the family.

Macken Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com