Gwendolyn R GOOCH

Gwendolyn R. Gooch was born May 4, 1945, in Sidney, Nebraska and departed this life November 2, 2025, in Columbia, Missouri, with her loving family by her side.

Although Gwendolyn worked outside her home for a period of time, she most valued the title of homemaker. It was there that she was able to spend time with her grandbabies and help with their raising.

Gwendolyn had a servant heart and adored children. She became a volunteer for Esther Elementary in their Reading Recovery Department. She was with the school system for eighteen years, where the children fondly referred to her as "Mrs. Gwen." They loved her and she loved them. It was her passion to spend time encouraging the students to live up to their full potential.

Her drive and dedication to the success of these children got her recognized in 2013, as the Hometown Hero for volunteering. She felt so honored and treasured the relationships built with those she met along the way.

When she wasn't helping out at school, she could be found tending to her gardens, both flower and vegetable or pulling weeds. She was meticulous about those things.

Gwendolyn is survived by one daughter, Vickie Waterman and her husband Matt; one grandson, Robert Gooch and his significant other, Andrea Tresch; four great-grandchildren, Emily Moe, Peyton Hunt, Sawyer Tresch and Hudson Gooch; Vickie's in-laws, Gwendolyn's dear friends, Sammy and Debbie Waterman; other relatives and many friends.

Those preceding her in death include her paternal grandparents, who raised her, Fred and Minnie Bangert; her biological parents, Harold and Virginia Bangert; Vickie's father, Bobby Gooch, who she shared thirty-two years of marriage with; and one grandson, Cole Waterman.

Gwendolyn loved many things about this life. She was a George Strait fan. She enjoyed watching the "Golden Girls" and the Hallmark Channel, especially during the holidays. She enjoyed Sunday afternoon car rides with her "favorite son-in-law," Matt. She loved time spent spoiling her grandbabies and she found a special playmate with the newest addition, Hudson. She was the "Wind beneath the wings" of her daughter, Vickie and she was so much more. We will miss her here, but until we meet again, we will hold on to every memory.