Viola Gossen

Services for longtime teacher Viola Faye Gossen, 98, who died Aug. 15 at Hillsboro Community Hospital, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

Born March 11, 1924, to Peter C. and Margaret Dyck Gossen in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, she contracted polio at age 7 and later required a wheelchair. Baptized at age 12 into Waldheim Mennonite Brethren Church, her first teaching position was in a one-room school in Canada, where she taught for six years.

She came to Kansas, received a teaching degree from Tabor College and a master’s from Emporia State University, and taught for 41 years in the Hillsboro area.

Sisters Leonora Toews and Margery Ediger and brother Harvey Gossen preceded her in death.

Survivors include Harvey’s widow, Anne, and nieces and nephews Richard Toews, Rodney Toews, Wesley Toews, Margery Toews Graham, Woody and Cindy Ediger, Marcelynn Ediger, Monty and Cheri Gossen, and Bill and Heidi Nelgner. 

A memorial has been established with Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church’s children and family ministries.