Robert Jean Gosling, Md

“I hate to see the evening sun go down….” – St. Louis Blues Robert Jean Gosling MD, formerly of Toledo, Ohio, passed away Saturday November 21, 2015 in Brookville, Ohio, where he had resided for the past two years. He was born on July 2, 1922 to Arthur and Clara (Nevins) Gosling in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Gosling was known variously as: Bobby, Bob, Robert, Dr. Gosling, Dr. Bob, Dr. G, Doc, Uncle Bob, Bobpy (grandpa) – reflecting his various identities, roles and endearments. The eldest of four children, two sisters and a brother, he grew up with many extended family members nearby. Dr. Gosling earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School in 1946 in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He was the 286th Physiatrist in the country in the new specialty of Physiatry. He interned in Mississippi in 1947. He served in the US Army Medical Corps, stationed in Japan for six months during the Korean War (1949), resigning from the Army in 1965, as a Lieutenant Colonel. His long medical career included practicing in the departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, Denver; Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC; and Harlan Memorial Hospital, Kentucky. He had a private practice in Toledo from 1961 until 1994; was Director of PM R at Toledo Hospital (1961-1982); as well as at St. Francis Rehabilitation Hospital (1967-1996), Green Springs, Ohio. He served on numerous boards, from the Arthritis Foundation to the Greater Toledo Ability Center. Dr. Gosling was a truly holistic healer, believing in treating the whole person. He met his wife Bernice Thordis Dahl, from Saskatchewan, during his internship in Spokane, Washington in 1947 and they were married exactly one year later. They raised four children, Maureen, Karen, Doug and Sharon, living in Colorado Springs, Co., Denver, Silver Spring, Md., Harlan, Ky. and Toledo. In Toledo the couple were involved with many civic organizations, enjoyed the arts, music, their children and their friends. Dr. Gosling expressed his creativity through his clothing, cooking and interior design, but most especially his music. He learned to play the piano and organ (expertly) at an early age, by ear and feel, with only a handful of piano lessons. He directed many church choirs and loved jazz, popular songs and traditional hymns. He was a member of the Toledo Jazz Society, and his beloved Toledo and Detroit Theater Organ Societies, among others. A proud moment was when a friend filmed him playing the Mighty Werlitzer at the Senate Theater in Detroit for a full-length DVD. Dr. Gosling was a true original. He built a boat, waterskied, loved his wheels (cars, motorcycles and when he had to give those up, a scooter) logging 100,000 miles on his motorcycle. He loved to dance, entertain and make people laugh. He was sweet and big-hearted, but could also be scrappy, provocative and stubborn. He was not afraid to express his feelings and cry when he was moved to. His last years had many challenges, but he met each one, always expressing appreciation for his long and eventful life. He touched the lives of hundreds and will be deeply missed. Dr. Gosling was preceded in death by his precious wife, Bernice Dahl Gosling; his parents; his brother Roger E. Gosling; nephews Glenn and Jim Gosling; sister-in-law Evelyn Dahl Esplin. He is survived by his daughters, Maureen T. Gosling of Oakland, Ca.; Karen L. Gosling of Berkeley, Ca; Sharon Gosling Newman (Ward) of Dayton, Oh.; son Douglas R. Gosling of Occidental, Ca.; grandson Alex G. Ludwig (Julie Brown) of Clinton, NY; granddaughter Emily Mohr (Alex) and great-grandson Sullivan Mohr of Hill AFB, Ut.; sisters Betty Lou Vandermolen (Dick) of Parchment, Mi. and Shirley Moore (Paul) of Topeka, Ks.; sister-in-law Mary P. Gosling of Indianapolis, In.; brother- in-law Norman Dahl (George Wilkes) of Gatineau, Que.; dearest friend, Gene Caskey of Goshen, In., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be Saturday, November 28, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 1:00 p.m. in the Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor Rd., Toledo. Military honors and burial will follow at Tontogany Cemetery. The family would like to especially thank the staff and residents of BrookHaven Retirement Community in Brookville for all of their love, care, and support the past two years, and Dr. Andrew Diller and his staff for their gentle compassion and caring. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either: BrookHaven Benevolent Foundation, the Detroit Theater Organ Society or the Sight Center of Northwest Ohio.