Gwen D. Kossman

1944 - 2023

Mount Vernon - Gwen D Kossman passed away peacefully on June 24, 2023 at the age of 79 in Mount Vernon, Washington after a long fight with dementia. She was a resident at Ashley Gardens Memory Care in Mount Vernon where she received compassionate and skilled care. Gwen was born to Paul and Mary (Houchin) Brink on January 12, 1944 in Gallup, New Mexico. Gwen lived on the Navajo Nation Reservation at her father's trading post until she moved to Farmington, New Mexico when she started elementary school. She graduated from Farmington High School and attended the University of New Mexico her freshman and sophomore years. She married Kenneth Kossman, also of Farmington, on August 21, 1965 following his graduation from Eastern New Mexico University and her sophomore year at UNM. They spent their honeymoon traveling to Seattle where she completed her college education receiving a BS degree in Nursing from Seattle University in 1967. Gwen specialized in mental health nursing, working at University of Washington Hospital, and retiring from Overlake Hospital in Bellevue in 1999.

Gwen loved dancing and traveling and was a big baseball fan. She could be seen at Mariners games with her scorebook, meticulously recording each play. She and Kenneth took several trips to visit baseball stadiums across the country. They were at the 500th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park in June 2009. They saw a game in the old Detroit Tiger stadium and watched the ground crew roll the tarp in and out on a rain cancelled game at Wrigley Field. She loved going to spring training in Arizona. Dancing was a big part of her social life. She and Ken made life long friends in the greater Skagit Valley area dancing at venues in Mount Vernon and Bellingham. She could be seen dancing at Ashley Gardens when there was music. She loved to travel, especially cruises. She went to Alaska three times, taking her children and grandchildren on her 70th birthday. Other cruises included Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, South America, Norway, the Panama Canal and the Mediterranean.

Gwen is survived by her husband, Kenneth, daughter Kristi Tekel (Rob), daughter Kerry Brockmann (Mike), and son Colin Kossman (Amanda); grandchildren Cole Tekel (Rachael), Kyler Tekel, Gavin Brockmann, Laura Brockmann, Zoe Kossman and Tyler Kossman.

Memorials in Gwen's name may be donations to Hospice of the Northwest in Mount Vernon or the Alzheimer's Association.

To leave condolences and share memories with family please visit www.kernfuneralhome.com.