Goossen, Joshua Mark (1979-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2001 Jun 22 p. 27

Birth date: 1979 Jun 25

text of obituary:

JOSHUA MARK GOOSSEN

Joshua Mark Goossen of Winkler, Man. passed away April 26. He was born June 25, 1979 to Ted and Mary Goossen in Morden, Man. He grew up in Winkler, where he accepted Christ as a child. In 1985 the family moved to Cranberry Portage, Man., where he began to develop talents in music and art. In summer 1996 he was baptized at Simonhouse Bible Camp and joined Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren in Cranberry Portage. He enjoyed summers at Simonhouse and was a popular, humorous friend. After graduating from high school in 1997, he attended Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask. His musical talents flourished here and later in Saskatoon. Impressed with the spiritual insight of the Eastern Orthodox Church, he joined it in 1998. In 1999, following a trip to the Middle East, he began teaching guitar and studying music at university. He began showing signs of schizophrenia in fall 1999 and moved to his parents' home in Winkler in spring 2000. He served at Winkler Bible Camp and Simonhouse in the summer and began studies at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg in the fall. He was admitted to Eden Mental Health Centre in October 2000, where he was a patient for 4 months. He spent his last months at home and was re-admitted to Eden in April 2001. Schizophrenia slowly began consuming much of his humour and youthfulness, and it became an ever-increasing battle for him to control his mind. He found spiritual strength and a deep understanding of his suffering in the God of the Scriptures and the lives of the Orthodox saints. His struggles enabled him to love and understand fellow patients and others, blessing them with his art, music and prayers. In the end, the sickness broke him, and he ended his life. He is mourned by his parents; brother Jonathan; sisters Jodine and Sara; and grandmothers Helen Goossen and Sara Dueck. Funeral services were held April 30 at Wiebe's Funeral Chapel, Winkler, with Father Bernard Funk ministering, and at Winkler Bible Camp, with Ken and Carolee Neufeld ministering.