Doris Ann Fallquist Gospe

1934 - 2025

Doris Ann Fallquist Gospe, RPT
April 5, 1934 - February 1, 2025
Doris Ann Fallquist Gospe, 90, died peacefully in Santa Rosa on February 1, 2025 and is now reunited in eternity with her beloved husband of 63 years, Stephen Roy Gospe, MD. Doris was born April 5, 1934 in Spokane, WA to George and Olive Fallquist. After graduating from Lewis & Clark High School in 1952, she attended Stanford University (BA, Physical Therapy, 1956), where she met the love of her life, Stephen Roy Gospe. They married March 22, 1958 in her hometown of Spokane, and she graduated from Stanford School of Medicine (MS, Physical Therapy, 1959).
In 1965 Doris & Steve moved to Santa Rosa to raise their growing family and establish his private practice in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, which she later joined as its physical therapist in the 1980s-90s.
In the 1960s-70s Doris devoted herself full-time to raising their four children, tirelessly supporting their schooling and many interests in sports, music and other activities, also serving for decades with numerous organizations such as the Presbyterian Church of the Roses (both as a Deacon and Elder), Bethlehem Lutheran, various Bible study and church groups, Community Concerts, the Saturday Afternoon Club, Sons of Norway, the American Association of University Women, the Santa Rosa Medical Society Auxiliary and the Stanford Alumni Association.
Thanks to countless holidays and summers in the nearby wilds of Northern Idaho, Doris grew into an outdoors enthusiast with an active lifestyle of travel, hiking, fishing and skiing, later enjoying a mountain cabin in Arnold, CA.
A lifelong swimmer who never cared about temperatures as long as she could be in the water, she joined the Montecito Heights Health Club in 1990 and swam every week for 30 years.
Doris loved all animals --- especially dogs --- and was an avid birder. She also enjoyed classical music and musicals from the 1940s-50s, and sang in numerous choirs as well as played piano, organ, guitar and trombone. A versatile artist who expressed herself in various media, she developed considerable expertise in traditional Norwegian "rosemaling" folk painting.
Doris was adored by all who knew her, appreciated for her cheerful optimism, gratitude and smile that found the good in any situation. She delighted in cooking and entertaining for family and friends at their home of 50 years on Happy Valley Court. And she especially loved having an active role in the lives of her four children and nine grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her sister, Marilyn Sanders, then her husband in 2021, Doris is survived by their four children: Stephen Bradford (Lisa), Gregory Michael (Pam), Jeffrey Donald-Ole (Ann) and Kristen Elizabeth (Owen), plus nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Doris was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa, where a celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Doris can make a donation to their local Humane Society or to First Presbyterian Church, 1550 Pacific Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Questions, contact jeffgospe@gmail.com or 707-494-9249.