Bernard Goskie

Wednesday, October 15, 1919 to Thursday, March 24, 2011 A Resident of Cape Girardeau, MO Visitation Services will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill, MO Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill, MO The Final Resting Place is at the Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill, MO Bernard "Bernie" Goskie, age 91, of Cape Girardeau, MO, passed away Thursday March 24, 2011 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born October 15, 1919 at Thebes, IL; son of John and Ethel Cox Goskie. He married Merle M. Harlan on November 6, 1945. After being drafted in Nov. 1941, Bernard completed his basic training at Jefferson Barracks, MO. from there he was sent to Camp Bowie, Texas, for two months of maneuvers, he was then separated from his group and sent to Fort Knox, KY to attend classes in tank mechanics. The 759th shipped out from Boston on the ship Dutchess of Windsor, eleven days later they landed in Iceland where he spent a year training for combat, learning how to repair army tanks and defending Iceland from the Germans. Landing on Omaha Beach shortly after the beachhead was established, his company fought all the way through Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe. After the war ended in Europe, they were loaded on Boxcars, called "40 or eights" meaning that they could carry 40 men or eight horses. The boxcars took them back to France were they boarded the English Ship Queen Mary for the trip back home. Goskie attained a final rank of Tech 4 (Sergeant). He was awarded Bronze Stars for each of the five European campaigns, in addition to the Good Conduct Medal, the American Service Ribbon, the European-African Middle-Eastern Campaign Ribbon and six overseas bars. Prior to the war Goskie was an automobile mechanic, and after he worked for the Woodland School District as a mechanic, and a member of the American Legion Post. Survivors include: his wife, Merle of Jackson; two sons, Troy Goskie of Eugene, OR; Mitchell Goskie of Nashville, TN; two daughters, Diana Beattie of Jackson; Gina Sinecki of Nashville; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death was his parents, three brothers Ralph, Curtis, Joe, and two sisters, Aldena Upchurch, Marcie Crader. Visitation will be Saturday. March 26, 2011 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. Funeral Services will be Sunday at 2:00 P.M., March 27, 2011 at the funeral home with Rev. Fred Ritter officiating. Interment will follow in the Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill with full Military Honors. So sorry for the loss of such a man of honor. May his legacy live on in the hearts and memories of everyone who knew him. Troy, Sorry to learn of the passing of your father. It seems he enjoyed a long and productive life. John Smith - class of '64 Aunt Merle and Family, We are sorry for your lose. Uncle Bernie was a GREAT man. Have peace in knowing he is with our Savior, he is healed, he is FREE! Love and prayers Larry, Lexi Jordan and family You and your family are in everyone's thought and prayers.

Tributes

Bernard Goskie

October 15, 1919 - March 24, 2011