A gentleman of a past era, Dave was born on December 10th, 1934 to the late Walter L and the late Frieda (Krause) Kosmen, and brother of the late Walter Kosmen. Interestingly, his birth certificate was signed by Richard M. Daley, who at the time was County Clerk and went on to become long-time Mayor of Chicago.
David graduated from Taft High School. He attended the Academy of Fine Art in Chicago in preparation of pursuing a career as a Commercial Artist.
He first worked for Montgomery Wards and then opened his own studio DJK Advertising Art and worked for many years with Sears Roebuck on Homan Ave and then Sears Tower until they moved Corporate Headquarters to Hoffman Estates. At that time computer graphics replaced the free-lance artists and brought the art department totally in-house. The "big" Sears Catalog was ultimately discontinued which brought that relationship to an end .He also maintained accounts to include Herrschner's and Lee Wards mail order catalogs and many other accounts. He was working with an Ad agency in Elmhurst when he had successful Quadruple Heart Bypass surgery in 1991.
While working at Montgomery Wards, he had the opportunity to work with Bob May, the artist who created and wrote the song Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for an Ad promotion. In 1986 Ron Ramseyer, National Catalog Advertising Manager, presented David with recognition of his individual contribution to the success of the Centennial editions of the Sears Catalog.
After leaving the art game, he took a position with Superior Ambulance in Elmhurst as a medical lift van driver, transporting patients to and from hospitals, nursing homes, etc. He was too young to retire. He enjoyed meeting so many different kinds of people and when it was a load of women, he got them singing fun songs lifting their spirits while transporting them. Eventually he went into the accounting department and left Superior in 2010.
Fully retiring at 79 he was able to finally spend his time working on his 12' x 12' Turn of the Century HO Model Railroad layout. He was an avid hobbyist from age 16 and until the summer of 2017. He had shared this great interest with the late Walter Hilberg, a longtime friend. His artistry, patience and attention to great detail on the layout was incredible! Joe Reynolds and he later enjoyed working together on it in Del Webb when he and his wife Lois moved back to Huntley. Dave spent many, many hours and years ...never believing it was finished.
Dave was a member of the Kishwaukee and Fox Valley Railroad Club in Del Webb.
Dave was also a member of the Huntley Lions Club when he and his first wife Muriel and family lived previously in Huntley from 1966 until the mid-70's.
Dave had joined the Naval Reserve in May of 1953 for eight years, until May of 1961.
On September 7th of 1956 he married Muriel (Edie) and together they had 5 children, Kim, Karen, Dave, Kris and Kate, during their 22 year marriage. Moving from Mt. Prospect to Huntley with Muriel he built a home on 4.5 acres on Powers Rd and became a gentleman farmer. He rented another 10 acres, had a few horses for the kids, raised a few steer, and chickens. He brought fresh eggs to the parking attendants downtown when he delivered artwork to Sears. Those eggs secured him a good parking spot in the lot.
On August 1st of 1982 Dave married Lois Holman Moyer. Their love for each other, their common interests were a match. Lois had a craft company selling to retail and mail order accounts beginning in 1974. In marriage David became a step-father to her children, Dana Moyer (Kosmen) and Curtis Moyer. They enjoyed many trips to her retired parents’ farm in Fairchild, WI and eventually converted her mother's home into the Holman House Bed and Breakfast for 6 years in 2001, planning to retire there. That wasn't to be, as the housing market collapsed in 2007 and they stayed in Dundee, IL. Lois got her real estate license in 1987 as has been a broker/assoc now for 30 yrs.
Another creative venture they enjoyed was Lois' idea of finding white doves and a Victorian cage for daughter Kris's wedding. That led to more cages and more baby doves as they started a fun side job renting them to wedding venues in the Chicago area during the 90's.
As a tribute to David...the brochure of his funeral features white doves. Dave also had picked out a few white Dove ornaments for the Christmas tree this year before he became sick. As God welcomes him in heaven...I am sure the Doves helped carry his spirit there.
David is survived by his wife, Lois Kosmen of Marengo; his daughters, Kimberly (Leon) Choin of Wonder Lake, Karen Downey of Raleigh, NC, Kristin (Robert) Pruitt of Valencia, CA, and Kate Brylski of Lindenhurst; his son, David Wayne (LaVonne) Kosmen of Antioch; his step-daughter, Dana (John) Moyer Kosmen of Minocqua, WI; and step-son, Curtis (JoAnn) Moyer of Morton Grove; 17 grandchildren, Michelle Rigali, David William Kosmen, Alex Kosmen, Brandon Pruitt, Tyler Pruitt, Max Downey, Anna Downey, Jake Lombardo, Maegan Brylski, Laura, and Paul Choin, Savannah Moyer and Symphony Moyer, Amanda Kosmen and Michael Kosmen, Samantha Gardner and Zaquery Gardner; two great-grandchildren; and his nephews, Walter Lee Kosmen Jr., Steven Kosmen, and John Kosmen.
David was a well-loved man and will be missed by all.
There will be a visitation from 10am to 11am on Monday, February 19 at Shepherd of the Prairie Church, 10805 Main St., Huntley. There will be a memorial service at 11am.
Flowers are welcome but for those wishing to make a donation, they would be appreciated in David’s name to the Shepherd of the Prairie Church building fund or to the Marengo M.O.R.E. Center, P.O. Box 32, Marengo, IL 60152 or at www.marengomorecenter.com.
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