On Wednesday August 26, 2020 Leslie “Wayne” Cogswell, age 85, of Nashville was reunited with his beloved wife Penny who preceded him in death on December 28, 2017.
Wayne was born in Nashville, on May 9, 1935, the son of the late David and Elsie (Mead) Cogswell. He was raised in the Nashville, area and attended local schools graduating from W.K. Kellogg High School in 1953. Shortly after graduation Wayne began working at General Motors as a parts distributor. Three years later on October 6, 1956 Wayne married the love of his life Bernice “Penny”(Reed) Cogswell following her graduation from W.K. Kellogg High School.
Wayne and Penny made their home together in Nashville where they raised their three daughters. The family loved spending time together, and each summer enjoyed traveling to Colorado to visit Penny’s sister Mary. Another favorite summer destination was Silver Lake Sand Dunes, where they would rent a cabin and camp.
Raising the girls was the joy of Penny’s life, and tending to the needs of the growing family was always a source of great pride for her. When the girls had grown, Penny needed to keep busy, and through the years worked at the Nashville Elevator, Maker’s IGA, Dr Brown’s Dental office, and Pennock Hospital in the ER department, retiring in 1990. Wayne followed shortly after retiring in 1991 after 35 years with GM.
Retirement for Wayne and Penny meant escaping the Michigan winters to enjoy spending time with friends in the warmth and sunshine of Sarasota Florida, which they did for over 15 years. Penny loved to socialize and her gift of conversation made it possible for her to make friends easily and with just about anyone. Weekends for the couple typically involved dancing, at the local Moose Lodge or the Gilkey Lake Tavern in Delton.
When they had time to themselves, Wayne enjoyed watching The University of Michigan sports and grabbing a cup of coffee with his best friend Bill Maker. Penny enjoyed knitting, crocheting and talking to her friends.
Wayne and Penny are survived by their three daughters, whom Wayne affectionately referred to as: daughter #1 Julie (Michael) Conger, daughter #2 Lisa Cogswell, daughter #3 Dawn (Jon) Kent; special nephew, Mike Cogswell; Penny’s sisters ,Clarabelle Downing, Kaye (Clyde) Stanton; five grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
The couple was preceded in death by Wayne’s siblings, Annabell (Glenard) Showalter, Maurice (Francis Doris) Cogswell, Marjorie (Emory) Fisher, and Bernita (Jack) McDonald; Penny’s parents, Rueben (Gertrude) Snyder; siblings, Eva (Dennis) LaFoutain, Ethel (Nelson) Myers, Sylvanus “Buck” (Mamie) Reed, Beulah “Tootie” (George) Streans, Ilah Reed, Jay “Jim” (Esther) Reed, Mary (Arthur) Vaughn, Leonard “Bing” (Iona) Reed, Bertha (Clarence) Bialk, Richard “Dick” (Francis) Reed, Maribelle (Doug) Yarger, and William “Bill” Reed,
Funeral service for Wayne and Penny Cogswell are being conducted privately.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Maple Valley Athletics.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net