Joan was born May 24, 1935 in Corn, OK to John and Pauline (Stobbe) Gossen and passed away Thursday, September 26, 2019 at Corn Heritage Village of Corn at the age of 84 years, 4 months, and 2 days. Joan was raised in Corn and attended grade school in Corn, then to Corn Bible Academy for high school, graduating as salutatorian of her class.

When she was very young, she dreamed that she heard her name being called. So she ran to her mother and said she wanted to accept Jesus,
which she did that night. She was later baptized and accepted as a member of the Mennonite Brethren church in Corn, Oklahoma, of which she was a member until her death.

Because her parents had only girls in the family, mom helped with the farming alongside her dad. She wore long sleeved shirts, big hats and long pants so the sun wouldn't hurt her skin. At the age of 17 her parents moved to California so her father could attend the Mennonite seminary there. She wanted to stay with her friends and her class at CBA, so she lived with Grandma and Grandpa Stobbe to finish her senior year.

The night of her Junior/Senior banquet (no prom-not allowed to dance) she got an engagement ring. But soon after her engagement, she was not asked, she was told that she would be accompanying her parents to Germany for a year of evangelism among the refugees there, singing in a trio with her parents and playing her accordion. Despite her reluctance to go, she was instrumental in starting several Mennonite brethren churches among these people.

As soon as they returned, she was married to her fiancé, Roland Schmidt. They moved to Denver, Colorado for 2 years of alternative service and while there, Lorraine Ann was born. After service they moved back to the Corn area and farmed. In the next 6 years, they gave Lorraine three brothers-Richard, Philip and Russell.

They stared a grade A dairy and the day that they got the certification for the dairy, Roland was killed in a truck accident at the age of 36. Mom had no means of supporting 4 children so she went back to Southwestern college to get a degree in Special Ed and also worked at CBA and at Corn Heritage Village. She was one semester from graduating when she started dating and married Archie Franz. She always said that the day after her wedding, she turned 40 and became a grandma because Michael was already born. She never thought of Archie's children or grandchildren as 'step'. They were all hers.
Through the years she farmed along with Archie, cooked many huge meals for her large family and went many places with him for vacation.
She had many talents. She sang in a lady's trio for 30 years as a ministry in other churches and for different events. Joan played the piano at church for over 70 years. One of her greatest joys and ministry was playing for the children at church. In later years, she enjoyed singing with her sisters at various events. She was an excellent cook, made a quilt for every grandchild when they turned 16, and did embroidery work for benefit auctions. But her biggest talent was being able to play any song "by ear". If you hummed it to her, she could play it. And if you needed it in a higher or lower key, she just changed it for you.

Even though she had many health problems, she worked hard at taking care of her house, yard and serving her church and community until at the age of 84 she fell and broke her leg. She worked hard in rehab at Corn Heritage Village to get back to her home. Her grandson, Ert stayed with her through the summer and took excellent care of her but her body was tired and her stay was not long at home. She was moved back to the nursing home in August. She asked staff and family to pray that she could go meet Jesus soon because her breathing was so labored and her prayer was answered last Thursday. We will miss her but know that she is now able to breathe freely the fresh air of Heaven.

She leaves to celebrate her home going four sons, Tim Franz and wife, Susie of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Richard Schmidt and wife, Jeannie of Lincoln, Nebraska, Philip Schmidt and wife, Daneille Schmidt of Weatherford, Oklahoma, and Russell Schmidt and wife, Suphawan of Corn, Oklahoma; two daughters, Rita Williams and husband, Randy of Springdale, Arkansas and Lori Kliewer and husband, John of Weatherford, Oklahoma; three sisters, Marilyn Gerbrandt, and husband Dave of Clinton, Oklahoma, Jeanette Grunau of Corn, Oklahoma and Margret Smith and husband, Ray of Lake Conroe, Texas; twenty-one grandchildren; and thirty-two great-grandchildren.

Those preceding her in death includes her parents; both husbands; one sister, Carolyn Javorsky; one brother, Robert Gossen; one granddaughter, Kandice Kliewer; and one grandson, Kasey Kliewer.

A special thanks to Corn Heritage employees and Faith Hospice for their wonderful care.