Thomas Aloysius Goossen, 71
Thomas Aloysius Goossen passed away Aug. 9, 2023, from complications of Stage 4 cancer.
Thomas was born in July 1952 on the South Side of Chicago. His family lived in Chicago until they moved to Santa Clara, Calif., in 1959. He attended public and Catholic grade schools in the area and graduated from Archbishop Mitty High School in 1970. In 1972, Thomas received an associate of arts degree from DeAnza Jr. College, and in 1976, he received a bachelor of arts from Humboldt State University.
He held many assorted sales and service positions over the years. He lived in Humboldt County, Calif., for 20 years; Medford, Ore., for 10 years; and then moved to Spokane, Wash., in 2003.
Thomas met his wife, Marie, in 2005, and they were married in July 2006. They resided in Sagle, Idaho, for their entire 17 years of marriage.
Together, Thomas and Marie spent nine years selling their homegrown produce, jellies and crafts at the local farmer’s market. Thomas contributed framed prints, handmade wooden laundry racks, and gregarious salesmanship to their market goods.
One of Thomas’ biggest hobby interests was large-scale "G" outdoor model railroading. He served as Train Club president in Medford, Ore., and later was also president of a train club out of Spokane, Wash., and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was instrumental in helping the Medford club, "Southern Oregon Large Scale Trains," build a G-scale layout of the city of Medford Train Park between 1999 and 2003.
Thomas loved ballroom dancing and taught beginner-level classes in Eureka, Calif. He was also active in his church and served on the board of trustees at both the Eureka and Medford congregations of Centers for Spiritual Living.
Power of Prayer: "If I don’t get a cure for my cancer, I can be healed from my fear."
He is preceded in death by his father, Aloysius John (1984); by his mother, Ellen Eileen (2004); and by his younger sister, Mary Eileen (2006). He is survived by his wife, Marie; his younger brother, James; and James’ wife, Sherry, of Matoon, Ill.