Martin T. "Marty" Gohmann

Gohmann, Martin “Marty” Thomas, 83, devoted husband and loving father, died May 9, 2018, surrounded by family in his home of 41 years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, six sons, and 16 grandchildren.

The son of Thomas and Ethel Gohmann, Mr. Gohmann grew up in New Albany on Silver Hills, alongside his sisters Margaret (Spoerri) and Carol (Whelan). He attended New Albany High School, and graduated from Bellarmine College on a basketball scholarship. After college, he served in the Korean War for a two-year tour.

He met his wife Virginia (“Ginny” Pace) while visiting an office where she was employed as a secretary. They wed in November of 1966, and shared a happy, loving marriage for 51 years. Together they raised eight children: Gretchen Gohmann Craig of Jeffersonville, Tom Gohmann of Floyd’s Knobs, Don Gohmann of New Albany, Jo Gohmann of Brooklyn, NY, Marty Gohmann of New Albany, Ted Gohmann of New Albany, Graham Gohmann of New Albany, and Gregg Gohmann of Indianapolis. (Or as Mr. Gohmann, a great lover of nicknames, affectionately referred to them: Grennan, Roy, Donnation, Josey Lamb, Moochie, Falis, McCray, and Pew.)

Standing six feet five inches, and well-known for his charm, wit, and big personality, Mr. Gohmann was larger-than-life in every sense of the word. He possessed a natural gift for conversation, and was interested in everyone who crossed his path. He wouldn’t leave a restaurant without knowing what the waiter wanted to study in school, or exit a store without chatting to the cashier about her children.

His good-natured demeanor served him well in his professional life. He was a talented businessman, and was the founder and president of Creditors Insurance Service, which he ran out of the Elsby building for 42 years. He later helmed another successful business, Momentum Insurance, for ten years.

A lifelong Catholic, Mr. Gohmann was a dedicated member of Holy Family Parish, where each of his children attended school. When he and his wife suffered the tragedy of losing their eldest daughter, Lynne Anne, at the age of 5, and later a stillborn son, Gregory I, they both held fast to their faith, and to each other, and continued to share a life filled with purpose and compassion.

Mr. Gohmann had an immensely generous spirit, and was the head of the St. Vincent DePaul society for 25 years, where he spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas making sure families had holiday meals to look forward to. But he was also quietly charitable, and would gladly help out anyone in need, no questions asked.

A great lover of animals, he was often seen around the neighborhood with his trusty labrador “Brown”, or holding his tiny, beloved terrier, “Holy.”

He was a skilled athlete, and was passionate about basketball, baseball, and especially golf, which he had a natural gift for. He coached grade school basketball for every one of his sons, and attended every high school game his boys ever played. When his eldest sons played college ball, he drove several hours to cheer them on from the stands. In his later years, he was an avid fisherman, and competed in the Destin Fishing Rodeo in Destin, Florida.

Trophies and tournaments aside, his family will remember his best sporting moments to be standing in his front yard playing baseball with his kids. This was the only time their always dapper dad would wear blue jeans. Calling himself “the all-time pitcher”, he’d pitch the entire game, throwing out ball after ball to his children, and in later years, to his grandchildren.

He was the proud grandfather of Hayden, Hayley, Hamilton, Harrison, Houston, and Holden Craig (Gretchen), Luke and Grant Gohmann (Tom), Porter and Savanna Gohmann (Don), Fabian Boyle (Jo), Fletcher, Sullivan, and Olive Gohmann (Marty), and Morgan and Brody Gohmann (Graham).

His grandkids will forever carry memories of their playful “Gaga”, and the silly way he joked and teased. And truly, Mr. Gohmann’s sense of humor was one of his most beloved traits. His family and friends will never forget the crazy way he danced, his teasing smirk, or the wild and wonderful stories he told.

His children would like to thank their partners: Jennifer Gohmann, Holly Gohmann, David Boyle, Amanda Gohmann, Dana Gohmann, and Jessica Mclean for all of their love and support.

The family would also like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Gohmann’s caregivers these past few years: Chrystal Harris, Monica Willis, Tasha Oliver, Kelly Lane, and Amanda Stringer.

Most of all, the children would like to express their deep gratitude and admiration for their mother, who cared for their dad with such tenderness and devotion right up until his final moments.

Mr. Gohmann was always fond of the word “tremendous”. He used it to describe anything he considered a great achievement, or extremely impressive. And the word suits him to a tee. He was a tremendous man, who lived his life with tremendous heart. He will be, without a doubt, tremendously missed.

Visitation will be from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Kraft Funeral Service, 708 E. Spring Street, New Albany, Indiana. His Funeral Mass will be held 11:30 am Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 129 W. Daisy Lane, New Albany, Indiana with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in New Albany, Indiana.

Donations in his memory can be made to Hosparus Health of Southern Indiana.