Evelyn Genevieve Goss

Evelyn Genevieve Goss, 92, of Springfield, MO, passed away surrounded by her loving family on June 25, 2023, at the Cedarhurst Senior Living Center in Springfield, MO.
Funeral Services for Evelyn will be on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Springfield, MO. Visitation will be from 10-11 and committal at 1:00-1:15. Pastor Dan Anderson will officiate with burial to follow at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery.
Evelyn Genevieve (Freitag) Goss was born March 31, 1931, near Scranton, ND, the daughter of Max and Anna (Hoth) Freitag. Evelyn was raised on the family farm northwest of Scranton and attended school in a rural setting. She received her high school diploma from North Dakota Agricultural College. At age 16, she began teaching in a one room school. Also, at that time in an old-fashioned revival she gave her heart to the Lord.
Evelyn attended Eugene Bible College, Cascade College, and Trinity College of the Bible where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Soon after graduation from Eugene Bible College, she went to San Francisco, CA to teach Vacation Bible School. It was during this time that Evelyn met a special enlisted Navy man, John, and their love story blossomed from that initial meeting to marriage on June 18, 1954. Their lifelong love story demonstrated true love and devotion to each other for 69 years and set a wonderful example for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Evelyn and John were blessed with four daughters: Rhonda, Brenda, Peggy, and Becky.
Evelyn and John pastored in the Midwest and Texas for almost 50 years. Evelyn's selfless demonstration and commitment to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was evident in every aspect of her life. She faithfully taught Vacation Bible School, led Bible studies, played the piano and accordion and was the perfect partner for John as they worked to spread the message of Jesus Christ with others.
Evelyn faithfully attended Life 360 Church in Springfield, MO. She partnered with other seniors to make many quilts for foster care children. She loved her Lord and Savior and was a prayer warrior for her family, friends, and those in need. She spent daily time in prayer and devotion and continued to live a life of service to others.
Evelyn was a brilliant lady who excelled at everything she did. She was an expert seamstress that could turn a scrap of fabric into a beautiful work of art. She made clothes for her family, and everything she created was designer worthy, including wedding attire. After retirement, quilting became her passion.
Evelyn was a voracious reader. She was "Reader of the Year" at the Greene County Library in Springfield for many years, until she decided to withdraw her name to give others a chance! She was a competitive and excellent game player who never let you win you always had to earn it. She instilled a fun spirit of competition in her children and grandchildren. When you played Yahtzee with her it was infrequent that you would ever win! Her puzzle expertise demonstrated her ability to always keep going and never give up until she completed a project.
Evelyn's love and commitment to her faith never wavered, even during some difficult periods.
Evelyn will be greatly missed by her family who so faithfully loved her. They will cherish and hold all their special memories and she will forever live in their hearts.
She is survived by her children: Rhonda (Stephen) Wilson ministering in Patagonia, Chile, Brenda (Carl) Boswell of Neosho, MO, Peggy (Steve) Erlewine of Atlanta, TX and Becky (Robert) Vann Jr. of Ozark, MO; 8 grandchildren, Benny (Mandi) Boswell, Ginger (Boswell) Phillips, Val Boswell, Sheila Boswell, Tony Boswell, Shawn (Shannon) Erlewine, Chris (Tomomi) Erlewine, Robert Vann, III and 5 great-grandchildren, Ethan Erlewine, Elliot Erlewine, Jacob Phillips, Victoria Phillips and Penelope Boswell, Sister, Millie Van Winkle; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, Max and Anna Freitag, sisters, Ravina Burns, Oral Dingfelder and Ruth Freitag; and brothers, Kenneth, Harry, Marlin, Gerald, and Donald Freitag.
Visitation will be 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, 2001 W. Walnut Lawn St., In Springfield. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Dan Anderson officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m., at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 S. Southwood Road, in Springfield.
Her care has been entrusted to Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Ltd. DeGraffenreid-Wood Crematory