Mildred Koss

KOSS, Mildred -- A 47-year Palo Alto resident, passed away on December 28. Mildred was born on February 12, 1919 in Irwin, Pennsylvania and lived the first 14 years of her life in coal mining towns from West Virginia to Minnesota. Her father, an immigrant from Serbia, moved his family to Wisconsin in 1933 with the dream of building a new life for his family. Mildred graduated from West Milwaukee High School in 1937 where she was a bright and active student. She married Nick Koss, a US Air Force Strategic Air Command bombardier instructor, in 1946 and they had three children who were raised in a warm and loving home. After the untimely death of her husband in 1953, Mildred moved to Palo Alto to be near family. She successfully raised her three children who later earned advanced college degrees and blessed her with 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mildred worked for 25 years as a teller for the Bank of America in Palo Alto before retiring at the age of 70. She was a caring and loving mother, who always put the needs of her family before her own. Her generous and friendly spirit will live in the memory of all who knew her. Mildred is survived by her sister Sophie Ristich of Palo Alto, her brother Daniel Mudrinich of Seminole, Florida, her sister Mary Drobac of Madison, Wisconsin, and her three children, George Koss of Midland, Texas, Donna Lindquist, Graeagle, CA, and Janet Meyer, Williamsburg, VA. Funeral services will be held on January 2, 2004 in Libertyville, Illinois. Cards or flowers can be sent to the Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 N. Park St, Libertyville, Ill 60048.