Brenda Jo Goosman

Brenda Jo Goosman, 76 of Gaylord, passed away Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Munson Medical Center.

Brenda was born on the 10th of May 1948 in Mount Pleasant, MI, to Kenneth “Red” Utterback and Mildred Utterback (Breedlove); where she grew up living in a house proudly on the West Side with her sister, next door to her Grandparents, Derward and Lillie Breedlove.

In 1966, she married the love of her life, Thomas Goosman, in Mount Pleasant, MI, where they raised their boys before moving to the Gaylord area in 1991, where they’ve called home since.

For most of her life, she was a dedicated homemaker, raising Chris and Jamie (not to mention many of their friends—you know who you are). Still, she found a variety of jobs to fill her time before and after Chris and Jamie left home: teen hangout owner, donut shop waitress, bookkeeper, owner of The Keg Bar in Waters, MI with Tom, ultimately retiring from Citizen’s Bank as a teller.

In 2015, after a lifetime of searching, she found her church home at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Gaylord, MI, where she was baptized in the Catholic faith. She spent as much time there as she could, finding many new friends and immersing herself in the love of Christ.

Many folks described her as a “firecracker,” partially because of the red hair she shared with her dad “Red” Utterback, at least when he had hair, and partially because of her personality, where she might quietly sit until the right moment with an explosive joke or laughter, or both!

Brenda was hospitalized at Munson Medical Center a week before her death, where, despite all efforts to heal her enormous heart, it simply gave out in the end. She had given all the love she could.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Tom; children Chris Goosman (Belinda Ellsworth) of Pinckney, MI, and Jamie Goosman of Gaylord, MI; sister Lynda Sheets; grandchildren Olivia Goosman, Ayrlia Goosman, Tiffany Ellsworth, and Aaron Ellsworth; three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; cousins; and her friend Mary Weitzel, formerly of Gaylord, MI.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant son.

Visitation will take place 5:00 - 7:00 PM Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00 AM Friday, March 7, 2025, at St. Mary Cathedral, where visitation will begin at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers, Brenda was an avid animal lover and had many cats and dogs as pets throughout her life. She would appreciate a donation in her name to the Otsego County Animal Shelter (https://www.otsegocountymi.gov/192/Pets-for-Adoption), the American Heart Association—Michigan (https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/michigan), or a charity of your choice. 

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on her guestbook below.