Duane Michael Cossalter

It is with deep sorrow and fond remembrance that we announce the passing of Duane Michael Cossalter, age 84, on Thursday 3 July 2025 at Essentia Hospital in Duluth Minnesota from the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. He was a longtime resident of Payson Arizona where he built his home and hangar in the airpark next to Payson Municipal Airport - Rich Henry Field, from which he regularly flew his Mooney aircraft.

Duane Michael Cossalter was born in Duluth Minnesota on 3 June 1941 to Romulus J. and Helen A. Cossalter. He graduated from Morgan Park High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree from UMD with a major in geology.

While at UMD, Duane participated in the early geological surveys on the Minnesota Iron Range searching for copper and nickel deposits. During college, he managed a gas station in the central entrance area of Duluth. In 1962, Duane traveled to the Seattle area and worked for Boeing Aircraft before returning to Minnesota to work for Honeywell in Minneapolis. Duane joined the Air Force and entered pilot training in 1969. Upon completion of pilot training, Duane received an assignment to operate KC-135 air refueling aircraft at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1982, Duane transferred to Intelligence with a deployment to Korea. After returning, Duane supported SR-71 intelligence at Biele Air Force Base. When the Gulf War started in 1991, Duane deployed to Saudi Arabia to provide intelligence to the Commanding General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. until the liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991. As Duane described the job it was to produce the “mother of all intelligence briefs.” Upon his return, he retired from the Air Force. He returned to flying commercially, employed to support aerial radar mapping, hauling cargo for Kitty Hawk, and occasionally government contracts to return undocumented immigrants to the countries of their origin. Duane retired from commercial flying in 2006 and returned to Arizona to complete his dream of having a hangar built next to his house. That would enable him to fly his beloved Mooney whenever he wanted.

Preceded in death by his parents, Romulus Joseph Cossalter and Helen Antonia (Peterson); his sister, Susan Marie (Georgiev); nephew, Paul Ellery Cossalter; and Paul’s wife, Karen Paulette (Gallagher). Duane is survived by his brothers, Ellery Joseph and Timothy Jon; his sister, Melanie Ann (Eubank); and six nieces and nephews.

The family scheduled a private viewing. In accordance with Duane’s request, he will receive a military burial at a future date at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.