Joanne Mae Cossell

Joanne Cossell (84) passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, friends and beloved pets on Wednesday, 5 March 2025 at her residence in Copperas Cove, Texas.

Funeral services are pending.

Joanne was born to William and Verna Peterson on April 17, 1940. She had a wonderful childhood in Minnesota and completed the nursing program at Charles T. Miller Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota and was certified as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in 1957. Joanne loved watching sports, and she loved to laugh and have fun. She touched many lives with her fiery spirit and spunky personality from complete strangers to close friends and family.

Mom had two loves in her life. She married Richard J. Imholte in 1960 and from 1960-1978, she was a proud military spouse, and mom played a vital role in supporting her husband and by extension the country. She held the family together during the frequent separations and relocations from war and training exercises including redeployments. She endured frequent moves across the world and raised her children while living in Germany or at multiple posts across the United States. She graciously managed to hold our extended family together over years spent apart, by long-distance phone calls, missed holidays, birthdays, and vacations, tears, and a lot of unexpected moves. This marriage born three children, Richard J. Imholte, Jr, Clinton C. Imholte and Shelley L. Imholte and they pursued a career in the Army.

As a military spouse, she gave up the opportunity to practice her nursing trade. With the financial constraints of the Army, and the unemployment challenges of frequent relocations, she routinely worked odd jobs to help make ends meet during their time in the Army. Once her location stabilized, she continued her career as a healthcare professional at Metroplex Hospital from 1978-2000.

In 1998, she married Ronald Cossell in Alma, Wisconsin. She and Ron were soulmates and lived by the mantra "Live, Love, and Laugh". They were a joy to be around and emulated by all. They loved their dogs, family, antiquing, gambling, and caring for the birds, squirrels and deer. She especially loved and nurtured her relationships with her friends or being with her family at the bar in her kitchen laughing, playing cribbage, sharing a meal or watching sports.

She was preceded in death by her father, W.C. Peterson, mother; Verna Peterson, brother; Robert Peterson, husband, Ronald Cossell, ex-husband, Richard J. Imholte, her oldest son, Richard J. Imholte, Jr. and countless dogs that she considered family.

She was a loving mother of Clint Imholte and his wife Dawn of Sierra Vista, AZ, Shelley Imholte and husband, Sanford Jeames of Austin, TX. She was a loving grandmother to her nine grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.