James Edward Cosgrove, II

James Cosgrove II, 74, passed away peacefully and suddenly on July 11th, 2024.

He was born on October 28, 1949, to James and Elizabeth Cosgrove. The second of seven children, he grew up in East Moline, Illinois. After graduating from United Township High School in 1967, Jim went on to electronics school until 1968 when a near-fatal car crash changed his outlook and future. He then decided to enlist in the United States Air Force, in which he served honorably for the next 24 years.

Jim served as a medic, with many different duty stations around the world. He worked in military hospitals and with air evacuation medical squadrons. At one of his duty stations, Wurtsmith AFB, he met a fellow servicemember, Linda Lazak, whom he would eventually marry in April 1970. The two of them moved to Clark AFB in the Philippines soon after, and adopted a local boy from the military hospital whom they named Brian Cosgrove. The three of them then moved again due to Brian’s medical needs and Jim was based at Travis AFB in California. Unfortunately, their son Brian would pass away in 1975 from Leukemia.

In 1982, Jim and Linda moved to Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL. They again looked to adopt and welcomed Joshua Cosgrove into their lives in April of 1983. They would live there as a family for 10 years before the Air Force would once again move them to Malmstrom AFB in Montana. Jim retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant in 1995. He would go on to be an EMT for various ambulance and civil organizations, as he enjoyed helping people as a medic.

After his wife Linda’s passing in 2003, Jim went back to school eventually earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing. He then moved to Arizona and worked for the VA in an oncology clinic for veterans. It was in Arizona that he met his second wife, Ilene. They were married in 2018 and retired together in Green Valley, Arizona. Jim was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023 and would sadly lose Ilene in January of 2024 due to health issues.

James Edward Cosgrove II was loved by many and was well regarded as the type of person that would stop at nothing to help others. He was selfless, intelligent, and a wonderful father and husband. Jim is mourned by his son Joshua and his daughter-in-law Emily. Missing their brother dearly are Jim’s six siblings: Moira, Michael, Kevin, Kathleen, Chris, and Dan. In addition, Jim leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, sister and brothers-in-law and very special friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Linda, his wife Ilene, and his son Brian.

A memorial service in Jim’s honor will take place Saturday, September 28, 2024, 11:00 a.m., at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service, 300 Highland Blvd., Bozeman, MT. A reception will follow the service.