Obituary for Glenn D. Cogswell
1922 - 2011

View this with picture and links to tribute video and guestbook at
http://www.penwellgabeltopeka.com/

Just search "Cogswell"

Service:

Saturday, February 12, 2011 1:00 PM
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
1321 SW 10th Street
Topeka, KS  66604       785-354-8558

Directions & Map

Interment:

Mount Hope Cemetery
Topeka, KS

Glenn Dale Cogswell passed away at his home Feb. 7, 2011. He was born Feb. 1, 1922, on a farm in Kingman County, the youngest of four sons, to Carl and Susie Cogswell. The family moved to Topeka in 1933. After graduating from Topeka High School in 1939, he attended Kansas University, graduated from officer’s training at Northwestern Midshipmans’ School in Chicago and was called into active service as an Ensign, United States Naval Reserve in 1943, graduating in absentia from Washburn University with a BA degree the same year.

He was a lieutenant J.G. in the U.S. Naval Reserve and served on active duty 1943-1946, with the Naval Amphibious Forces, European Theater, including the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach and Normandy Invasion, 1944. After the war, he returned to Washburn and received a Juris Doctorate from Washburn School of Law and was admitted to the Kansas Bar in 1947. He was elected judge of the Court of Topeka in 1948 at the age of 26 and was recognized by the Junior Bar Section of the American Bar Association in 1948 as “the youngest judge sitting on any bench in the United States.”

He served as judge of the probate and juvenile courts of Shawnee County from 1951 to 1957, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1956, and was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Kansas in 1958. He partnered in law practice with Frank Miller, the law firm of Goodell, Casey, Briman, Rice and Cogswell, and Cogswell and Storey with Topeka attorney Bob Storey.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy, and children, Carolyn and David Cogswell, Dia Fox, Niki Fincham, Shea Cogswell; stepchildren, Ann Anderson and Mike Vigola, granddaughter, Rosamund Cogswell, and many loving nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mr. Cogswell will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 12, 2011, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka. Memorial contributions may be directed to Alzheimer’s Association, 4125 SW Gage Center Drive, Suite LL-15, Topeka, KS 66604.

The picture and video may be viewed at http://www.penwellgabeltopeka.com/

Eulogy by Daddy's Little Girl

For readers who might be losing their fathers or have lost their fathers, I lost my dad in three ways, first in my parents' divorce, then to Alzheimers, and finally, to death. In honor of him, and as a place to continue to remember and celebrate my father,  I dedicate this site.

The eulogy for Glenn D. Cogswell (Feb. 1, 1922-Feb. 7, 2011) recited at my dad's funeral, Feb. 12, 2011

"Thank you all for joining in this celebration of the life of the honorable Glenn D. Cogswell, my father, my hero...

How do I find the words to offer a fitting tribute to this wonderful man God gave me for a father except to say I am privileged to call him 'Daddy?'

Whose knees encased me as he read to me "The Three Little Kittens Who Lost Their Mittens,"

On whose shoulder I burped as he pat my little back with his gentle hand,

A hand that gripped the hand of President Eisenhower, Vice-President Nixon, William Allen White, Arthur Capper, Alf Landon, Bob Dole and, undoubtedly, many of you here, with a heartfelt and congenial greeting...

His smile lit up a room, his hugs brought me into the heart of God, and he always made me feel I was Daddy's little girl. He even sang it to me:

'You're the Spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree;
You're the Easter Bunny to Mommy and me.
You're sugar and spice and everything nice,
and you're Daddy's Little Girl.'

He taught me to sing harmony to a song called 'Tell Me Why.'

'Tell me why the stars do shine
Tell my why the ivy twine,
Tell me why the skies are blue
And I will tell you just why I love you.

'Because God made the stars to shine
Because God made the ivy twine
Because God made the skies so blue
Because God made you
That's why I love you.'

In 1992, my father came to Oklahoma to share an accomplishment with me. We were riding in the car, he was driving. All of a sudden, he began to sing,

'Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me,
'Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me...'

And he probably went, 'Bom bom bom bom.'

'Daddy' I said, 'Where did you learn that?'

'Oh,' he said, 'I was saved at a Baptist revival when I was 16,' and I was glad.

Recently, when it became hard for him to form thoughts and communicate them effectively, I was afraid maybe he had forgotten, and, even though I knew God had not forgotten, I was blessed when, this past Christmas Eve, I saw him say 'Jesus' and bow his head.

So, until I see him again, how do I live my life in fitting tribute to this man God gave me to be my father, whom I am privileged to call 'Daddy' and who will inspire me as long as I live?

I have one more story. Even though it was often hard for him to say what he was trying to say, many times I could still sense he was trying to offer counsel and guidance, still wanting to be my Dad.

One time when I was riding the bike at the health club I called him up on my cell phone, and I heard him say these words:

'My little daughter,' he said, in the rich baritone he retained since his youth,

'Sometimes in trouble,

'Sometimes in great things...

'Play it hard.'

And that's what I will do. I did not need an explanation of what those words might mean. A daughter understands.

I include the closing paragraph of a piece I wrote on Faithwriters.com...

'Remember now, as always, to keep your mind fixed on Him. He is handling everything. Death grieves Him also. Jesus wept at the gravesite of Lazarus and He weeps with us at the loss of our loved ones. Rejoice always in the Lord. He is faithful even when we are not. Hold to the many truths of the Bible, but most of all, hold to Him. He will not leave you or forsake you. He is all wise, the Mighty Counselor and the Prince of Peace. Hold onto Him. Or, if you can't do that, let Him hold you, and release your loved one to Him.'