Eldon F. Cozad was born on Sept. 16th, 1920 to Grace (Simms) and Bert Cozad in Merna NE. After 97 years, Eldon departed this earth and joined Harriett, his wife of 65 years, October 3rd, 2017.
In 1939 Eldon graduated from Wood Lake High School. He married Harriett Simons of Sparks, NE, on June 3rd, 1943 in Valentine, NE. Twin boys, John E. and James F. Cozad, were born on February 25th, 1945. Eldon and Harriett were members of the Wood Lake Union Church of Wood Lake, NE, where he was a Sunday School teacher.
Eldon was a life-long rancher; he believed in good fences making good neighbors; if it couldn't be done with hard work, it couldn't be done. Eldon was involved with the Registered Hereford association and won prizes for bulls that he raised. In the 60's to 70's, Eldon and his sons began switching to Black Angus cattle. While ranching all of his life, he also flew a Piper Cub over Cherry, Brown and Rock Counties; this allowed Eldon to check the cattle, wells and neighbors through the years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. When ice fishing, Eldon would have his boys help rock the plane after landing; they needed to put boards under the snow skis to keep them from freezing to the ice. Eldon loved flying as much if not more, than ranching. He last flew at 92 years of age!
Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Harriett Cozad; son, John E. Cozad; and siblings Helen O'Kief, Ronald Cozad, John Cozad, Kenneth Cozad and Louise Bloom. Eldon is survived by his son, James F. Cozad (Jeanie), sister-in-law Jackie Cozad of Lincoln; and grandchildren, Sarah Miller (Andy); Jeep Cozad (Lynn); Jennifer Cozad, Mark Cozad (Amber) and James Cozad. Eldon has eleven great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Monday Oct. 9th at 11 am at the Wood Lake Union Church, Wood Lake, NE. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the Wood Lake Union Church. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Wood Lake. Visitation will be on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 3:00 PM at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine.