Duane Henry Gosch

Duane Henry Gosch, 91, born June 10, 1934, in Charter Oak, Iowa, died Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas.

Duane joined the Air Force at 18 years old right out of high school. He attended aircraft mechanic school at Sheppard AFB, Texas, engine specialist school at Chanute AFB, Illinois, and was stationed at Larson AFB, Moses Lake, Washington. There he worked on the C124  Cargo Globemaster. Duane was discharged from the Air Force in 1956.

Duane moved to Wichita in 1956 where he met and married his wife, Doris Marie Ridpath in 1957. They celebrated their 68^th anniversary in November.

Duane began his career with Boeing in 1958 as an aircraft inspector and worked on B52’s, KC 135’s, 707, 737, 727, 747 and became the Quality Supervisor on the first 747 built in Everett, Washington. He then began his career as the Quality Assurance Superintendent of Boeing Wichita Flight Line and retired in 1992.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Helen Gosch; son, Michael “Todd” Gosch ; siblings Ardis McDonald, Verdus Gosch, Lois Schimmer, Linda Hendricks and Larry Gosch. He is survived by his wife, Doris Marie Gosch; children, Juli (Bradley) Nicholson, Lari (Roger) Barnett, Terry (Frances) Gosch, Noelle Brawner, Jennifer (Stephen) Morgan, Amy (Steve) Shipley; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-two great grandchildren; and siblings, Marlene Eaton, Janet Hill, Karen Shrum and Donald Gosch.

A Rosary will be 10:00 am, with Funeral Mass at 10:30 am, both on Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with: His Helping Hands, 1441 East 37^th Street North, Wichita, Kansas 67219, The Lord’s Diner, 520 North Broadway Street, Wichita, Kansas 67214, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 .

Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary