James R. Gosh

James R. Gosh died December 21, 2023, at 91 years of age. Born September 28, 1932, in the Village of Arnott, Portage County, Wisconsin, he spent his childhood and youth in Arnott and Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and a Master of Science Degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. At the early age of 15 he showed his design and mechanical skills by starting his own business converting bicycles into Whizzer motorbikes, as well as repairing tractors at his father’s farm implement shop. He designed and built several complete homes, including his first project, a house for his parents, while still in college. One project he enjoyed describing was a geodesic dome house built in St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, having been hired for his math and crew leading skills. He also designed and built numerous home additions and remodeling projects. He had a passion to take his family on camping adventures across the U.S. and continued his travels into his later years. Family travels were in various types of campers which he designed and built across the decades. He was a self-taught boat builder, building a cabin cruiser for boating and skiing on the Chain O’ Lakes, and later a houseboat to spend parts of five summers cruising and camping on the Mississippi River. Jim taught high school math for 31 years and retired from Deerfield High School, Deerfield, Illinois, at age 55. During Jim’s lengthy retirement he used his design and building skills to serve his Lord Jesus on many Christian projects. He applied his teaching skills to leading Bible studies and appreciated being a part of prayer groups and men’s Bible studies. He found retirement to be productive and satisfying. He strongly urged others to live a thrifty lifestyle so they could retire early and experience the joy of serving the Lord. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude Kirschling Gosh and Neufrey M. Gosh, as well as his sister, Dorothy (Eric) Konkol. Jim is survived by his wife Edith Sheedlo-Gosh of Antioch, IL; sister Annette Gosh, of Plover, WI; daughter Gail (Doug) Freedman of North Barrington, IL, son Glenn Gosh of Lake Villa, IL, daughter Elizabeth (Thomas) Rasmussen of Grayslake, IL, and daughter Anita Grinnell of Fox Lake, IL; seven grandchildren, Robert Peck, Margaret (Scott) Beattie, Michael Gosh, Daniel (Megan) Rasmussen, Matthew Rasmussen, Katy Grinnell, and Marlee (Arturo) Novoa; and five great-grandchildren Fiona, McKenzie, Payton, Brett, and DJ. A celebration of Jim's life will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until the service at 5:00 p.m. at the Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church, 43 W. Grass Lake Road, Lake Villa, Illinois. If you desire to leave a memorial gift, Jim would have been pleased to have you make a donation to the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, or the church of your choice.

James R. Gosh

September 28, 1932 - December 21, 2023