Church members come to aid of man battling brain tumor

Catholic and Lutheran church members united last month to help a neighbor provide heat for his family by cutting wood.

About 50 members from Trinity Lutheran Church of Pyrmont and St. John’s Catholic Church in Bahner, brought out the big machinery and cut more than a dozen truck loads of wood for the Goss family, of Mora. Log splitters, Bobcats, four wheelers and more than 20 trucks were used by church members on Oct. 25.

Jason Zimmerschied, Trinity Lutheran Church member, said his church did a similar project last year to help a family and approached Steve Goss to ask if the church could help him.

“He’s not a member of our church, but he’s a neighbor,” Zimmerschied said.

Goss was diagnosed with a gliblastomia multiforme brain tumor on June 25. The tumor has caused his right hand to become numb and his medications prevent him from cutting wood for himself.

“It’s hard because I’ve always done everything myself. It’s hard to let other people help,” Goss said.

His wife, Lisa, said the tumor has kept him from doing things that he once did.

“It was a pretty emotional day,” Lisa said.

John Shipman, of Mora, has been a friend of Steve’s for about eight years.

“He’s my best friend,” Shipman said.

Shipman said people of all ages helped cut, load and unload the wood.

“It was just a good, heartwarming experience,” Shipman said.

Lisa said when the wood began arriving by the truckload, they were amazed.

“They just kept coming,” she said.

The large amount of wood should provide the Goss family with heat through next winter.

Steve said the family does have propane to use if the wood was not cut for them, but he and his wife are very thankful.

“These small communities out there that aren’t on the map anymore are still a community because they care about us,” Steve said.

“We really appreciate them all coming together,” Lisa said.