Jerry Leroy Gosse

Jerry Leroy Gosse, born December 8, 1935, affectionately known as Gus, 89, of Elgin, IL, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 23, 2025, surrounded by his loving family in Natick, MA where he lived the last couple years of his life.
Jerry was the husband of the late Bonnie Belle Burkhart with whom he shared 10 loving years of marriage. Bonnie passed away from cancer in 1975 and Jerry took on the role as a single father to their three young children. Jerry would later marry Barbara Kuehn in 1997. They resided in Hoffman Estates, IL, living near Willow Creek Church where they met and shared a nice group of friends.
Jerry was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, to the late Joseph and Pearl (Bohm) Gosse.
Jerry grew up in Elgin, IL, and graduated from St. Edward High School. He lived in a two-room apartment with his single mom and two sisters, and slept on a couch in their kitchen. Jerry came from very humble beginnings.
After high school, Jerry went on to serve his country in the United States Marines. It would also be the way Jerry could go to college on the G.I. Bill.
Jerry attended Northern Illinois University (NIU) and met some of his best friends for life. His first job after NIU was as an accountant where he met his wife, Bonnie. That first job opened a door to a government position as a bank examiner in Chicago. Later he became one of the department's first criminal investigations agent where Jerry took down some of the biggest white collar banking criminals in the 1980s. Jerry retired after 28 years with the government.
Jerry ended up working another 13 years as the VP of Compliance at a local bank in his hometown. It never felt like work because he loved the subject matter and even more so, making many new friends through all his wonderful colleagues. (The commute was much better too!)
Jerry was also known for his humor, creativity, and magic. Self-dubbed "Gosse the Mediocre," his limericks, pranks, riddles, magic & card tricks brought joy to countless friends and family gatherings and many elementary classroom shows. Jerry always had a very welcoming home to the neighborhood, where every Friday night was cards and snacks with the Gosse gang. All the kids loved jokester Jer!
Above all, Jerry lived by faith, optimism, and love. Jerry loved spending every day with his family and friends and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him. His legacy endures through his children, grandchildren, extended family, and the many friends whose lives he brightened with his laughter and generosity. Every day, Jerry gave himself away.
Jerry is survived by his children; son, Jeffrey (Monique) Gosse, of Elgin, IL; daughters, Julie Gosse, of Geneva, IL; and Aimee (John) Mury, of Natick, MA.; grandchildren, Mitchell Gosse, Blake Gosse, Xander Mury, Jasmine Mury, and Eliza Mury.
Jerry is also survived by Barbara (Kuehn) Gosse, of Elk Grove Village, IL; they married in 1997; Barbara's daughters, Deidre (Patrick) Bergner, of Elk Grove Village, IL; Jennifer (Omar) Gutierrez, of Elk Grove Village, IL; Barbara's grandchildren, Julia Bergner, Keira Bergner, Antonio Gutierrez, and Madeline Gutierrez.
A Celebration of Life will be held later in November with details to come.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the New England Center for Children Dontate | New England Center For Children, where Jerry's granddaughter Eliza, with severe autism, lives and goes to school. Jerry, who had been living with his daughter Aimee and her family in Massachusetts since 2023, found visiting Eliza and playing Bingo were weekly highlights of his life!