Nathan T. Goc
Nathan T. Goc passed away at his home in Milwaukee on May 29, 2024, two days before his 46th birthday. He was born on May 31, 1978 at the Adams County Memorial Hospital in Friendship. His parents were Michael Goc and Barbara Weade. He came home to their log cabin in Quincy and learned to love the land, the water, music, and building construction.
He attended Castle Rock School and began playing the saxophone in the school band. He continued to play the sax in A-F school bands until he graduated in 1996 and went on to play in concert and jazz bands at the UW-Milwaukee. In the 1980s and ‘90s, he was a fixture at the Historical Society’s Pinery Road Days, visiting the buck skinners, throwing tomahawks, and retrieving the log rafts from the creek.
He studied architecture at the university but did not earn a degree. He came home to work on remodeling a cottage on the Wisconsin River and attend Mid-State Tech where he earned a technical degree in Mechanical Design. He returned to Milwaukee in 2006 and lived in the downtown area for the rest of his life.
He worked as a custodian in the Milwaukee Public Schools for eleven years while completing courses at Milwaukee Area Tech for a degree in Computer Technology plus several technical certificates. He worked in IT for a health care insurance start-up and on his own as a free lance tech. He later earned another technical college certificate in Medical Billing. In recent years he volunteered regularly at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, helping patients find their way through the maze of corridors and offices there.
Nate was a man of many talents with limited opportunities to employ them. As a toddler he was diagnosed with a seizure disorder that developed into incurable epilepsy that restricted his work and social life. He did his best to overcome these obstacles and live a fulfilling and independent life.
He was fond of playing board games, completing giant jigsaw puzzles and building extravagant Lego creations. He loved playing the Weade Family Solitaire game whenever a tableful of players gathered. The annual Weade Weekend reunion, family Christmas parties and his Memorial Weekend Birthday bash were among his happiest times. He will be remembered for the gourmet cheese cakes he perfected and shared with family and friends.
He also built an extensive on-line social network of friends and fellow gamers from all around the country. One of those friendships led him to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, a place he visited several times.
As a young man he discovered kayaking and paddled on rivers and lakes in Wisconsin and at sea in Florida and Alaska. On his own, in his boat, he felt the confidence and freedom he could not experience at other times in his life. Nate was a brave, loving, generous soul, willing to sit on a hardwood floor for hours building Legos with his nephew Julian. From young on, he found it difficult to pass up a beggar on the street without making a donation.
He is survived by his parents, Michael Goc and Barbara Weade; his sister Rachel Goc; brother-in-law Richard Adams; beloved nephew Julian Goc-Adams, and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins in the extended Goc and Weade families.
Nate was a decades-long fan of the rock band RUSH. Here is a lyric he knew well:
Time stand still
I’m not looking back
But I want to look around me now….
Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger
Experience slips away.
A memorial event is planned for this summer. Memorial donations may be made to cureepilepsy.org, the organization dedicated to finding a cure for epilepsy.
Missing you Missing you, Missing you
Barb and Mike Missing you. Nathan will
Be Miss,we talk all the time Holidays is coming up.
And and I will be missing you around. He would love to cook out around the fire pit.
I am so sorry to hear that Nate has passed. I wish your family peace and kindness during this time. He was a very good kid.
Nate was such a fine young man. A free spirit and was loved by many. Sympathy & Blessings to his family.
I didn’t know Nate well. We were just getting to know each other as fellow Froedtert Finders Thursday mornings. He was a kind, caring soul who truly loved helping others. The last time we spoke he was telling me how excited he was to be going to his parent’s house with his family for the Memorial Day weekend. I was so saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family.
I’m so sorry to hear of Nate;s passing. He was a wonderful young man and I will always have fond memories of him. I’m thinking of you all.
We are saddened to hear of Nate’s passing. Share and cherish your wonderful memories of an amazing man.
To all Nate’s family….Nate was a friend of mine who I never saw enough of him. What a sweetheart. All who knew him loved him and will miss him, but he is now in a much happier place. Please remember all the happy times.
So very sorry to hear about this. I remember Nathan as a talented musician and can picture him carrying his saxophone. Our deepest sympathy to Nathan’s family.
We are so sorry to read about Nathan’s passing. I have fond memories of him from 4-H. May you hold your memories of him close to your hearts and may he rest in peace.
What a beautiful tribute to the life and legacy of Nate! So many unique ideas and words come to mind when I think about Nate. He was always inquisitive, and would tilt his head just so when he displayed that curious smile. Such a diverse and kind young man, a deep thinker, and a shyly devoted son, brother and friend. Please know that you have many friends who share in your loss. He was truly a remarkable man! God Bless you as you continue to share such wonderful memories of him.
Gone from our sight but not from our hearts. You all have our deepest sympathy. What a beautiful tribute to your loved one. May he rest in peace.
Oh Barb, Mike, Rachel and family, So sorry to hear of Nathan’s passing. This young man was well loved by his family. Our hearts are breaking for all of you. Such a talented and interesting life he led. Lean on the Lord and each other in this difficult time.
Mike, Barb, Rachel and Family, our sincerest condolences. Keeping all of you in my prayers.
Our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Share and cherish the memories.
We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Mike, Barb, and family:
My condolences.
Dennis
I have been friends with Nathan since we were 6 years old in kindergarten at Castle Rock. He was always so sweet and so funny. He will be remembered forever. Rest well my friend.
Sincerest sympathy to you all. May your grief soon become many many wonderful memories. Remember the good times. Lots of love & prayers for you all.
My deepest sympathy!!!!! Keeping all of you in my prayers!!!!
I was deeply saddened to learn the news of Nate’s passing. I know you had just spent a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, all together, celebrating Birthdays. Such a happy time. I hope holding that memory close and the myriad other treasured times brings you comfort in the days ahead. May hosts of angels sing Nathan to his rest. Take care. 💞
My thoughts are with you all.
I am so sorry for your loss
So very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you all.
To Rachel and Barb and Mike, I am so sorry to hear of this tremendous loss of Nate. Reading through his story one realizes what a diverse, talented and deep soul he was. What amazing accomplishments against the difficulties. Sending you all much love and hoping for some peace in your heart. Bless you
To Rachel and Barb and Mike, I am so sorry to hear of this tremendous loss of Nate. Reading through his story one realizes what a diverse, talented and deep soul he was. What amazing accomplishments against the difficulties. Sending you all much love and hoping for some peace in your heart. Bless you
To the Goc-Weade-Adams families: my heart goes out to you all. Nathan was such a kind soul. I hope that you can find some solace in being together during this difficult time and in knowing all the lives that he touched. Please know you have a whole community who is here for you. Sending you much love and comfort.
Oh Barb and Mike—Sara and I are so very sorry to learn of your loss. Please know that you, Rachel, Richard and of course Nathan are in our thoughts and prayers.
Carla
Our most sincere sympathies to your family. I remember Nathan as such an inquisitive young man while visiting the library. A wonderful tribute filled with such special memories.
So very sorry on the loss of your son. Fabulous tribute.
Thinking of you all. So many memories of camping, playing in the pond, the rendezvous and tether ball in junior high. I’m so sorry for your loss.
My sincere condolences. Beautiful tribute to Nathan.
Barb and family very sorry to hear of Nate’s passing. Hold on to those great memories. He had an amazing life gone too soon. RIP Nate. Mom
I’m so sad to hear of Nathan’s passing. I remember the camping trips where all the kids would have a great time on the pond and ice skating in the winter. Know that we are thinking of you during this difficult time.
Our deepest sympathy. Such a beautifully written tribute. Rest in peace Nathan.
My sincere condolences to your family. He definitely lived an interesting life in his short stay. Heartwarming tribute. May he rest in peace.
I’m so very sorry for your loss Barb. He seemed like a very nice man.