Obituary of Ralph Robert Goessling

Ralph Robert Goessling, age 57, of Whitewater, WI died Thursday, December 31, 2009 at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital. Ralph was born October 30, 1952 in Whitewater, to Rudolf and Irmgard (Hagedorn) Goessling who were German immigrants that settled in Whitewater. He married me, his high school sweetheart, Robin Harris on August 21, 1976, on my 21st birthday. Ralph grew up on the family farm west of Whitewater. He attended Whitewater High School and graduated in 1971. He was an excellent athlete in school, playing football and was the heavy weight wrestler for Whitewater. Ralph was currently serving on the Whitewater Town Board. I could go on about all his accomplishments, but he would just shrug his big shoulders and dismiss it. So let's get on to what he really loved. Ralph loved his family! He loved his farm! He loved his life! He loved me!!We have 3 unbelievable children. Luke is our oldest, his wife Brandi and two sons; Rudy and Hank. This man cried the day his son was born. The proudest man ever. No one could be prouder of a son than Ralph to Luke. Then came Nina. She is married to David Schmocker and has two daughters; Tessa and Stella. He picked out her name. She always amazed him with her spunk and ability to do any task put her direction. Last but definitely not least is Lana. She was our "special surprise". She has been a beacon of sunshine since the first day we saw her. Lana is engaged to Erick Kropf and will graduate from UW- Whitewater this May. We have many nephews and nieces, but one has to be put with our children and that is Cain Zoesch. Cain was the first of all the children born and has spent countless days on the farm working with our family as family. Ralph is also survived by his sister Heidi Stewart and her sons; Zach and Alex, Sister in Law; Denise(Rick) Johnson and their children; Jeremy and Robby Kincaid, Dana, Jesse and Meric, Mother-in-Law; Delores Hulen, Sister in Law; Geraldine Harris and her sons; Cain and Aaron Zoesch, Sister in Law; Leslie(Art) Anderson and their children; Vinton and Donald, Brother-in-Law; Robert(Lisa) Harris and their daughters; Jenny, Amanda and Melissa, Uncle Siegfried(Paula) Hagedorn and their son Tom, special cousin; Judy and Warren Jones, many nieces, nephews and cousins. Special mention to his almost brother Larry Wolf. Now that we have the formalities out of the way, I will tell you a little about Ralph. He grew up on this farm west of Whitewater and never once wanted to live anywhere else in the world. We milked cows for 30 years until the Wisconsin Department of Transportation decided to build a road on top of the farmstead. Ralph could not bear to lose his home and barn so he picked them up and moved them a mile south on the farm and relocated on the same land. Our daughter Nina and son Dave took the heard of cows and heifers and developed them in to a nice show herd under the name; Black Lion Holsteins. Ralph loved to watch his daughters when they took the animals into the show ring. In 1989, he started with the first dump truck under �Robin�s Trucking�. He loved to drive truck!! He said it was like playing in a huge sand box. The people and friends we have made from the construction industry are second to none. This year we let him drive his �old truck�. We wanted to retire it, but he loved that old truck. I am so happy he got to spend his last season in his 007. In 2007, Ralph wanted to try a new venture, hauling commodities from the ethanol plants in the area. Ralph and Luke started a new trucking venture called �Farmin Too�. He loved to drive truck, but he loved farming too. We just finished his Superliner. Another old truck that he loves, but he didn�t get to drive it. So much yet to do. Ralph�s heart was always in the land. �Take care of the land and it will take care of you. If you dig a fence post, always scrape off the top soil, separate the clay and return it the way you found it. They don�t make any more land so take care of what you have.� We all heard these rules. He loved the smell of the dirt when you first opened a field in the spring. The way fresh hay smelled in the barn. A beautiful day, whether it was cold or hot, planting corn, mowing grass, sunrises and sunsets. He asked me if I noticed how big the moon was on New Years Eve. His first love though was me. Without a doubt. Not even a second thought. He would hustle to open my door. He never complained if I asked him to do anything. He would get my coffee in the morning and when I would tell him he didn�t have to wait on me, he would say that some day he wouldn�t be able to get by coffee. He was the kindest, gentlest, biggest hearted person you will ever meet. He loved to dance. We had our last dance New Years Eve. If I would have known, I would have held him just a little bit tighter. I could go on and on about Ralph but I will save those memories. Ralph always had a saying, �kids, cows and corn�. He loved them all. But mostly the kids. He loved those kids!! His children were his pride. He will miss Lana�s graduation from college and her wedding. He left us way too soon. This Christmas with the grandchildren was so special; a 5 year old and two 3 year olds and our baby Stella. He loved Christmas music, Christmas lights, Christmas shopping, Christmas food and just having the day with family. He loved �Manditory Beer Breaks�. He just loved and loved. We always took a family vacation to Florida. He was so looking forward to getting his feet in the sand this year. He loved the footprints in the sand and having his family with him on the beach. I can�t possibly do justice to Ralph�s life. If you asked him how he was, he�d always reply, �perfect�. He really was. Perfect. Just Perfect. He had so many things he wanted to do. But no bucket list. We just had this talk. He would always tell you his glass was always half full. So if you haven�t taken the time, take the time. Give an extra hug, say �I love you� and just be nice to somebody. That is what Ralph would have wanted. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at 11:00am at the First English Lutheran Church with Rev. Willem Houts and Rev. Jerald Wendt officiating . Friends may call from 4:00 � 8:00pm on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at the Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190 and on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 from 10:00am until the time of service.