Gossen, Harvey C. (1929-1974)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1975 Mar 21 p. 30

Birth date: 1929 Apr 18

text of obituary:

REV. HARVEY GOSSEN

The late Pastor Harvey Gossen of St. Catharines, Ontario, was born on April 18, 1929 to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Gossen of Waldheim, Sask. In 1941 the family moved to Ontario and settled in Virgil.

Death has been a frequent visitor to the Gossen family. His father was killed when Harvey was 11; his mother died three weeks after his marriage to Agatha Unger; and Agatha's father died when she was seven.

He attended Virgil Public School and the St. Catharines Collegiate. For approximately 10 years he was employed at Packard Electric.

At age 18, after years of intense inner struggling, he fully committed his life to Jesus as Saviour and Lord. At a recent funeral where he preached he shared that struggle. "I was 11 when my father was killed in Niagara Falls in a car-train crash. For eight years my questioning heart became bitter and angry. I quit church and often disobeyed my mother. Individuals reminded me of the wrongs in my life and they were right, but I hated them for what they told me. I had no room for the love of God. I did not understand or accept God's love. During that time I discovered that sin brings guilt-no peace. One night at a Y.F.C. meeting, the speaker reminded us that God created us in his Image, to have true freedom, with a need to worship God. And yet my heart cried out ... Where was God when my father was killed? The answer came to me. Just where he was when his own son was crucified on Calvary. That day I accepted Christ."

On August 6, 1949 he was joined in holy matrimony to Agatha Unger. The Lord has blessed their marriage with four wonderful children.

Following his total commitment to the Lord, Harvey felt an irresistible desire to share his life and the message of God's love with others. He was very active in the Niagara Christian Fellowship Chapel. His desire to share God's Word led him to studies at MBBC in Winnipeg and Tabor College in Kansas.

The Lord clearly called him into the minstry. For four years he pastored Brandon (Man.) MB Church. For the past 10 years he was pastor of the Fairview Church of St. Catharines, Ont. Freely and gladly they acknowledge that he was a true, faithful. loving shepherd to that flock of God. God in his love and wisdom has taken a beloved husband, father, pastor and friend at the age of 45. He is survived by his wife Agatha; three sons: Brian and his wife Ann of St. Catharines; David and Mark at home; a daughter Carole at home. Also, a brother Ervin of Port Coquitlam, B.C.; two sisters: Irene (Mrs. Herman) Kroeker of Niagara-on· the-Lake and Eunice (Mrs. David) Warkentin of Agincourt, and by many friends and relatives.