Matthew John Gansemer of LaPorte, Indiana, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Father’s Day, June 15th, 2025, after a brief illness.
Matt was born October 23, 1935, to Adolph and Marie (Hefel) Gansemer at the family farm in Holy Cross, Iowa, and was named after his grandfathers- Matthias Gansemer and John Hefel. Matt met his kindred spirit and everlasting love, Dottisue Buss, while attending nursing school in Chicago. They married on October 1, 1960, and spent 64 wonderful years together.
Matt attended Holy Cross Catholic Grade School and High School, and he served as an acolyte for nine years. After graduating from high school, Matt worked as a medical assistant at Xavier Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from the Alexian Brothers Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois, in 1960. Following nursing school, Matt graduated from the Northwestern School of Anesthesia in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This was the beginning of a fifty-plus-year career administering anesthesia as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). He worked with James J Ashland, CRNA, for ten years and administered anesthesia at Mercy, Finley, and Xavier Hospitals in Dubuque, Iowa, along with facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois. Matt was also employed at Finley Hospital for five years and Dubuque Anesthesia Associates for twenty-two years. After a brief retirement and relocation to LaPorte, Indiana, Matt worked for Great Lakes Anesthesia at several facilities in northwest Indiana for fourteen years. He was a professional who was well-respected by surgeons, nursing staff, and co-workers throughout his career.
At an early age, Matt possessed a great love for animals and agriculture and was a ten-year member of 4-H. He showed and bred Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers under the name of Gandy’s Kennel and was a former member of the Dubuque Kennel Club. Matt owned and operated Stardust Dairy Goats, a commercial dairy which he bred, showed, and exported registered French Alpine goats. For several years, he successfully showed at the state and national levels and the Iowa State Fair. He was active in the Dubuque County Dairy Herd Improvement Association and was a lifetime member of the American Dairy Goat Association. Matt enjoyed attending county fair auctions and purchasing animals to support 4-H youth. In addition, he was a member of the Dubuque, Iowa, Classic and Antique Car Club.
Matt and Dottisue enjoyed traveling, including visiting cousins in Germany, friends in Poland, and RVing to Saskatchewan, Canada, to visit cousins. They also frequently traveled to Cancun, Mexico, spent several winters in Florida, and made many memorable trips to Balltown, Iowa, visiting family and their close friend, Mike Breitbach. Matt treasured sharing fishing trips with family and friends.
He was a member of St. John Kanty Church, St. John Kanty Knights of Columbus, a 3rd degree member of Council 14240 of Rolling Prairie, Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Dubuque Men’s Association.
Matt was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Joan Lukan, Helen Wolf, Rose Ann Breitbach; brothers-in-law Marvin Lukan and Daniel Wolf; sister-in-law Ruth Gansemer; and son-in-law, Jack F. Rosenbaum.
He is survived by his wife; children; Christine G. Rosenbaum (Thomas Grzesik) of LaPorte, Indiana; Gwen Gansemer of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; David Gansemer (Heather) of Portage, Michigan; grandchildren, Bryan Clark (Mackenzie) of South Bend, Indiana and Steven Clark (Julia Erler) of Crown Point, Indiana; great-grandsons, Baylen Jack and Callum Ray Clark of South Bend, Indiana; his brother, Edward Gansemer of Dubuque, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 8:00-10:30 AM Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, 1117 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, Indiana.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. John Kanty Catholic Church, 7012 N 600 E, Rolling Prairie, Indiana.
Burial will follow at the St. John Kanty Cemetery, Rolling Prairie, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Kanty Catholic Church, www.stjohnkanty.com, or La Porte County 4-H Youth Development at www.extension.purdue.edu/
To light a virtual candle, share a story of Matt’s life, or leave a message of comfort for his family, please visit esslingfuneralhome.com
