Robin Ann Gossman

Robin Ann (Howard) Gossman, one of five children of Earl Howard, Jr. and Mary (Kirkendall) Howard, was born October 6, 1959 in Falls City, Nebraska. She attended Barada School through the eighth grade, and graduated from Southeast Nebraska Consolidated High School in 1977. Robin went on to attend Peru State College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, with a special education endorsement, in 1985.

On October 28, 1978 Robin was united in marriage to Leslie Gossman at the United Methodist Church in Barada. They were blessed with three sons: David, Jonathan, and Daniel (although she always said she raised four boys). They made their home on a farm near Stella, Nebraska.

After college, Robin did substitute teaching until receiving a full time position with SENC School. In addition to her teaching duties, she was the main grant writer for the school. From 2001 to 2009 Robin was the pre-school teacher and aide.

Robin was always very involved with her sons’ activities, including being a member of People for Kids and working on Post Prom committees. She played softball for the “Scooby-Doos”, and enjoyed gardening and other horticultural projects. She belonged to the Barada United Methodist Church and the Stella Garden Club.

When she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2013, Robin made the decision to live her life to best of her ability while fighting the tumor. With help from Les and the rest of her family, she was able to stay at her home throughout her struggle. She passed away at home on the morning of Thursday, January 1, 2015 at the age of 55 years, 2 months, and 26 days. Her father Earl, parents-in-law Gordon F. and Mary Gossman, infant sister Nancy, and brothers Terry and Richard preceded her in death.

Robin is survived by her husband Les of rural Stella; sons and daughters-in-law David and Becky Gossman of Falls City; Jonathan Gossman of Roeland Park, KS; Daniel and Tara Gossman of Johnson; grandchildren Tessa and Conner; mother Mary Howard of Falls City; brothers and sisters-in-law Jerry and Barb Howard of Barada; Bob and Sherri Howard of Falls City; sister-in-laws Bonnie Howard of Savannah, IL; Mary Ava Gossman of Omaha; brother-in-law Alan Gossman of Lincoln; many other relatives and many friends.