Glen "Buck" Gotsche passed away on Monday, November 9,
2020, two weeks before his 95th birthday, at Brookside Care
Center.
Glen was born in Kenosha on November 23, 1925 to the
late Oren and Helen (Ordy) Gotsche. He attended local schools
and graduated from Kenosha High School in 1943. Glen served in
the United States Marine Corps in WWII from 1943 to 1946. His
5th Marine Division landed on Iwo Jima and fought the entire 36
day battle which was a pivotal point in winning the war because
our planes could land there to re-fuel and go on to Japan. It
was the bloodiest battle of the war and Glen was always proud
that he had been a part of it. When the war ended, his division
was assigned to occupation duty in Japan. Glen was honorably
discharged from the Marine Corps in 1946. He joined the Naval
Reserve and was recalled to active duty in the Navy during the
Korean Conflict. He served aboard the hospital ship U.S.S.
Repose from 1950-1952.
Glen married Linda (Tyler) Marshall in 1977. He was
previously married to Patricia Johnson in 1947 and they had a
daughter, Sandra, and later divorced. In 1955 he married Nell
(Ignatovich) Jurik and had a daughter, Nancy. Nell passed away
in 1974.
Glen worked at grocery stores and American Motors in his
early years. He joined the US Postal Service in Dec. 1953 and
retired as a Window Clerk from the Kenosha P.O. in July 1984.
Glen was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1865, the
American Legion Post #21, Moose Lodge #286, and N.A.R.F.E.
(National Association of Retired Federal Employees).
Glen was chosen the Kenosha "Hometown Hero" by the
Mayor's committee in July 2018 for his military and community
service through the years. He was honored by the VFW post with a
ceremony there and a motorcycle escort by the VFW Riders to the
Municipal Building. During a televised City Council meeting, the
Mayor presented him with the award.
He was a Classic League bowler, enjoyed golf and was an
avid fan of Wisconsin sports teams.
Glen enjoyed spending time with his family, especially
playing cards together, and trips to the casino! His greatest
joy was time spent with his grandchildren, not only taking them
miniature golfing, scratching the occasional lottery ticket
together, playing "M&M Poker" with the kids (his invention!),
but always being their biggest and proudest fan at their many
sporting and musical activities.
Glen is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Linda;
his daughter and best friend, Nancy (Joe) Neumann; his step-son,
Todd (Jamie) Marshall; his daughter-in-law, Cori Marshall; six
grandchildren: Nicholas Neumann, Allison Neumann (Matthew
Borysewicz), Hope Marshall, Jori (Matt) Chambers , Josh (Amber)
Hoffman, and Coel Hoffman; his great-granddaughter, Lorelei
Borysewicz and 6 step-great-grandchildren. He will also be
missed by "his good dog", Sadie.
Glen was also preceded in death by his daughter, Sandra
Gotsche; his brother, Robert Gotsche; and stepson, Tim Marshall.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to
all the caring staff at Brookside Care Center, especially the
200 hall of the Memory Care Unit, for their loving kindness and
exemplary care and the "Fun Girls" of the Life Enrichment
Department who made it possible for FaceTime and outdoor visits
and took such amazing care of him when the family was not able
to be with him in person due to Covid restrictions.
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