Ioan Cosman

Ioan “John” Cosman, 93 of Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 25, 2015 surrounded by his loving family.

Ioan was born on April 23, 1922 in Aiud, Alba Iulia, Romania to Gheorghe and Lina Cosman. At 18 years of age, Ioan entrusted his life to his Savior Jesus Christ and sealed it by desiring to be baptized. The baptism occurred in the Mures river at three in the morning for fear of the authorities.

He fought in the Second World War where he was a medic and was wounded in his right knee by a bomb exploding nearby yet survived to speak about his war experiences. On January 26, 1945, he married Lucia Branza of Sebes Alba and their union produced three sons, Claudiu Alexiu, Valentin and Gaius.

Ioan loved to sing and enjoyed his garden. He also loved his church family at First Romanian Baptist Church in Chicago where he was a deacon for many years.

Ioan brought his family to the United States in 1980 in order to provide greater opportunities for his children and escape the communist regime.

Ioan will be deeply missed by his children Valentin (Esther) Cosman and Gaius (Virginia) Cosman; his grandchildren Claudia Lucia (Christopher) Meyer, Mihai Raul Cosman, Andrea (Geoffrey) Skinner, Stephanie (Christopher) Wickman, Edmund Ethan Cosman, Autumn Joy Cosman, Jesse Emmett Cosman, Seth Graham Cosman and his great-granchildren Alexander Christopher Meyer, Lexi Anna Meyer, Audrey Teagan Skinner, and Lillian Grace Wickman.

Ioan is preceded in death by his wife Lucia Cosman and his son Claudiu Alexiu Cosman.

Visitation will be Friday, October 30, from 6PM until 9PM with a 7 PM bi- lingual service and resume on Saturday, from 9 AM until the funeral service at 10 AM at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 Algonquin Rd., South Barrington, IL 60010. This service will be in the Romanian language. Interment to follow at
Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Romanian orphan organization, Pathway to Joy Ministries.

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