James "Jim" Wendell Cogswell

James "Jim " Wendell Cogswell passed away Sept. 25, 2024.

He was born in Spokane, Wash., on Sept. 15, 1941 to Jack and Elsie Cogswell. He grew up on the family farm in Espanola, Wash., where he had many great memories with older brother, Warren, and younger, brother, Darrell, and sister, Janice.

Jim and his brothers spent much time as young men working on cars out on the farm. Jim had a '69 Ford Fairlane and Darrel had a Ford Mustang. The boys used those cars to race against each other.

Jim graduated from Medical Lake High School in 1959 and then attended Eastern Washington University to pursue a teaching degree.

But family circumstances required that he leave school early to work full-time and take care of his children. He was just short of getting his degree, only needing to finish his student teaching.

He took a job at Medical Lake School District, where he worked for 38 years, most of those as the maintenance supervisor.

Jim married Sharon Conroe in Sandpoint, Idaho, in May 1960, and they had three children: Kim, Kelly and Kurt. They later divorced in 1968,.

Jim then married Patsy Engbretson in August 1971 in Spokane, Wash. Jim and Patsy had one daughter, Stacie.

Jim was always very active, and a favorite pastime was riding his bike. He rode his bike to and from work, and he attached a bike seat where Stacie would ride on the back when she was little.

Jim also took a couple of lengthy bike trips. One was with his good friend Julius Presta from Spokane to Sandpoint. He also completed the Seattle to Portland bike race.

Jim also enjoyed fishing. He loved going out in his boat, especially when he could take his grandchildren fishing. He passed along his passion for fishing to his grandchildren and taught them the skills they would need to nurture this passion for a lifetime.

However, Jim was always nervous when his kids or grandkids were around water and for good reason. On two different occasions, he saved his children from drowning - he saved Kelly and Kurt at Silver Lake when they went off a drop off and saved Stacie from almost drowning in a friend's pool.

Jim had a passion for music. He was very proud of his mother's ability to play the piano, and he played the trumpet in school. He supported his children's and grandchildren's participation in band and choir and enjoyed attending their concerts. He also amassed a vast collection of records and CDs that he liked to listen to.

Jim was very creative, was known for his mechanical talent and enjoyed helping others. In the 1970s, he built a solar panel and hooked it to an old water heater in the basement of his house on Cedar which was innovative for the time; he also built a transistor radio.

He helped Kelly to build a kitchen in her basement and helped Kurt to put in a yard at his house on Euclid. Jim also did smaller projects with his grandkids like building bird houses and bookshelves, or whatever other project they could talk him into. Jim served his community as a member of the Lions Club and maintained the water system for the Clear Lake Homeowners Association for many years.

Jim loved eating Bruchi cheeseburgers and fries and cherry pie, watching the Seahawks, Mariners, and Supersonics (until they were gone), but most of all he loved his family. He loved when the family was together for holidays, reunions or any reason.

He is survived by his brother Warren and sister Janice (Walt); wife, Patsy; children Kim (Barb), Kelly, Kurt (Pam) and Stacie; grandchildren, Taylor, Keaton (Ryan), Nick, Lauren (Justin), Josh and Ashlynn; and great-grandchildren Samson, Reyna, Ellery and Evelyn. Jim is loved by many and will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Jim's memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 21, 2024, at Cheney Funeral Home.

Jim's family has started a scholarship in Jim's name. A link to donate to this scholarship can be found under Jim's name on the Cheney Funeral Home website.