Rural Phillipsburg resident, Jessica A. Gooder, age 21, won her battle with cancer on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg after battling cancer and treatment effects for 13 years. 

She was born on October 1, 2004, in North Platte, NE the daughter of Michael Gooder and Lynette Riemersma. Jessica attended Kenesaw Public schools until moving to Phillipsburg, KS. She attended Phillipsburg Public Schools and graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 2023. Jessica went on to obtain her CNA in December of 2024. Jessica worked at the Phillips County Hospital until May of 2025.

Jessica will always be known for her love of art. She showed rabbits and cats in 4-H but loved to paint, draw and take pictures. She had many friends over the years and cherished the memories of spending time with them. In Phillipsburg, Jessica was able to have cats and dogs. She loved them all very much. They were her children she spoiled often. Jessica picked up a love for tractor pulling  and would travel with her dad and friends to take part in tractor pulls. 

After being diagnosed with brain cancer, we were introduced to many other families fighting cancer. Spending time with cancer fighting families part of Sammy Superheroes and Team Jack was what Jessica looked forward to doing. Jessica would share her story of surviving a Grade 4 Glioblastoma brain tumor (age 8), battling Stage 1 ovarian cancer (age 18) and being diagnosed with a high grade glioblastoma (age 20) in June of 2025. Jessica would always remind people to keep fighting and never give up. She lived according to this and fought to the end. 

Survivors include her mother, Lynette Ehm and husband Mike of rural Phillipsburg; Brothers Taylor Riemersma and wife Holly of Argyle, TX and David Ehm of Hays, KS; Sister Jessica Lovelle and husband Tim of Fort Riley, KS; Grandfather Dennis Riemersma of Red Cloud, NE; and her Grandmother Joyce Gooder of Grand Island, NE; Aunts Michelle Huffman of Cypress, TX and Beth Riemersma of Tomball, TX; Uncle Kyle Gooder and wife Hillary of Phillips, NE and Cousin Nicholas Huffman of Cypress, TX and Caden and Emma Gooder of Phillips, NE; Nephews Henry Riemersma of Argyle, TX and Colton Lovell of Fort Riley, KS; as well as other extended family and friends, Team Jack family, Sammy's Superheroes family, hospital family and church family.

Jessica was preceded in death by grandmother Linda Riemersma and grandfather Donald Ehm.

Following Jessica's grandparents death, Jessica would share reminders stating loved ones are watching us. Most recently, I found this thought she had saved: Perhaps they are not stars in the sky but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy. Looking up at the stars in the night sky I know she is now walking, running, jumping and telling jokes to everyone there while smiling her beautiful smile. 

Funeral services will be held this Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating. The services will be livestreamed on the Hugunin Family Funeral Homes Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Stuttgart.

Miss Gooder will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family reciting the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by a visitation from 7:00 p.m until 8:30 p.m. in the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jessica A. Gooder Memorial Fund.

Hugunin Family Funeral Homes, Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.