Gloria Jean Kossow
BARK RIVER — Gloria Jean Kossow, 67, of Bark River, passed away Monday evening, April 15, 2019, at OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, surrounded by family after a long battle with pancreatic and liver cancer. She was born on Oct. 29, 1951, in Marquette, Mich., the daughter of Charles and Stella (Baker) Bivens. Gloria grew up in Deerton, Mich., and moved to Escanaba in 1965 where she was a 1967 graduate of Escanaba High School. The former Gloria Jean Bivens married the love of her life, Matthew Kossow “Beaver” on April 10, 1969, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Together, the couple shared 50 years of marriage and raised two sons, Matthew Jr. and Michael. Gloria founded the Health Way Nutrition Center in Escanaba where she owned and operated the business for many years. One of her greatest achievements was going back to school and receiving a bachelor’s degree in social work. Gloria was employed by the state of Michigan for MDHHS until having to take medical retirement. She was an avid Detroit Lions fan and also enjoyed baking and giving her homemade sweets to family and friends. Gloria was strong in her faith as a member of the Munising Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Gloria Jean Kossow is survived by her husband, Matthew Kossow Sr. of Bark River; sons, Matthew (fiance Angela) Kossow Jr. of Gladstone, and Michael (Sherry) Kossow of Perkins; grandchildren, Cassandra (Nick) Badham of Big Lake, Minn.,, and Marcus (Janet) Kossow of Hannahville; sisters, Eunice (Jim) Schwake of Escanaba, Christine (Howard) Mannisto of Au Train, Mich., Minnie Barnes of West Olive, Mich., Nancy Ketchum of Dowagiac, Mich., and Charlotte Bivens of Grand Rapids, Mich.; brother, Ken (Becki) Bivens of Hastings, Mich.; special friend and telephone buddy, Elaine Erickson; and many wonderful nieces and nephews — especially the Schwake kids as she loved them all dearly.
In addition to her parents, Gloria was preceded in death by her brothers, Ernest and Gordon Bivens.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Funeral services celebrating the life of Gloria will follow at 4 p.m. Friday in the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jimmy Schwake officiating. A luncheon will be served at the conclusion of the services at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Escanaba.
Burial will take place in Fernwood Cemetery. The Anderson Funeral Homes are assisting the Kossow family and online condolences can be sent at www.andersonfuneralhomes.net.