Former Rochester resident William E. "Bill" Gottschalk, 89, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at the Frances Georgeson Hospice House in Naples, Florida.

Born near Fulton, IN on July 23, 1934, Bill was the son of Fred and Helen (Shuman) Gottschalk. As the third of the five Gottschalk children, he shared his childhood with two older siblings, Bob and Mary Ruth (Keim) and two younger siblings, Jim and Phyllis (Bird). Bill was a proud member of the Fulton High School Bulldogs basketball team graduating from Fulton in 1952.

Bill continued his formal education while attending Indiana University-Kokomo. He was employed for 30 years as an engineering technician with the Delco Electronics Corporation, an automotive electronics design and manufacturing subsidiary of General Motors. Bill took great pride in this work and developed many friendships with his coworkers during this time. Following his retirement he and his wife Linda moved to Bonita Springs, Florida, and had most recently relocated to Naples, Florida.

Bill was a former member of Naples Christian Church and most recently attended Estero United Methodist Church. He was actively involved in the hospitality ministry at both churches by acting as a greeter, shuttling church members from the parking lot to the church and providing transportation to and from church for members who no longer drove. He welcomed friends and visitors alike with his outgoing personality and his irrepressible cheer and sense of humor. Bill never knew a stranger and as such he freely shared his journey of faith with others and would inquire about their own relationship with Jesus Christ.

After retirement, Bill and Linda relocated to Bonita Springs, Florida where they lived an active life for over 20 years. They enjoyed traveling to Alaska, San Francisco, and Europe and visiting their family across the country. Bill took pleasure in reading Zane Grey novels, listening to old radio programs, and watching westerns and adventure movies. As an armchair athlete he enjoyed watching all sports with special interest in any of Purdue's teams, auto racing and all levels of basketball. Bill was devoted to keeping in touch with his classmates from elementary through high school, calling them frequently. To keep sharp, he embraced the challenges of Sudoku and other mathematical puzzles.

Bill dearly loved his family and treasured the times they spent together at holidays and special family celebrations. He valued being a husband, father, grandfather and brother. At family gatherings there was always time for board games, Dominos, Uno and trips to the Royal Scoop Ice Cream shoppe. Being a jokester by nature he enjoyed many a practical joke with his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Throughout the years, Bill always made time to include a personal note within each card sent to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill's legacy will live on in the memories he created with his family and the countless lives he touched with his strong faith, humor and zest for life.

Left to cherish Bill's memory are his wife of 48 years, Linda J. (Klinefelter) Gottschalk; his loving daughters: Sherri (Randy Harrison) Mosier of Kokomo and Lisa (William Hoey) Gottschalk of Chesapeake, VA; his step-daughters: Jane Musarra of Indianapolis, Laura (Jeff) Cochran of Olive Branch, MS and Melissa Grube of Indianapolis; his siblings: Robert (Elaine) Gottschalk of Rochester, Jim Gottschalk of Ft. Myers, FL, and Phyllis (Jim) Bird of Logansport; his grandchildren: Shauna (Neil) Noah of Lexington, KY, Joseph (Sarah) Musarra of Houston, TX, William (Elissa) Hoey of Pasadena, CA, John Hoey of Ft. Collins, CO and Tommy Price of Olive Branch, MS; and his great-grandchildren: Kylie Noah, Alexander Noah, Donovan Harrison and Nicholette Harrison. Also surviving Bill are his chosen family and cherished neighbors Kim and Kurt Wilson and their sons Jack and Todd Wilson.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Ruth Keim on May 16, 2015.

A celebration of the life of Mr. William "Bill" Gottschalk will be at 11:00 AM, July 20, 2024, in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th Street, Rochester. His family will receive friends one half hour prior to his service. Pastor Keven Marsh will officiate. Burial will follow in the Rochester IOOF Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to honor Bill's memory to St. Jude Children's Hospital at www.stjude.org.