Golden Don Cozzens

May 29, 1936 – Feb. 25, 2016

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend Golden Don Cozzens died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, in St.[caption id="attachment_10988" align="alignright" width="130"] Golden Don Cozzens[/caption]George, Utah, of complications related to diabetes. His wife, five sons and other family members were at his bedside.Don was born on May 29, 1936, in Lovell to Golden E. and Wilma Lynn Cozzens, second in a family of five sons who were raised on a small farm near Cowley. He married Helen Welch, also of Cowley, on July 5, 1954. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti, Utah Temple on Nov. 17, 1962.Don and Helen had been married for 62 years, but their relationship began long before that. They met in first grade at CowleyElementary and were classmates through all 12 years of school, lived on adjacent farms, often sat together on the school bus and sometimes sought each other out when they both got to go to the Saturday matinee when Roy Rogers and Dale Evans movies were the rage and a movie ticket cost only a dime. In their senior year they were elected student body president and vice president.In their first two years of marriage they lived in Yellowstone Park, Cody and Lovell. Then because work became scarce they made the decision to move to Salt Lake. They lived in Utah ever since, having lived in Salt Lake for five years, Moab for five, then settling in Draper, where they raised their family and resided for the past 50 years.Don worked for most of his life in construction, principally as a heavy equipment operator and superintendent. He developed skills and abilities that almost turned his work with a Caterpillar tractor into an art form. He, in turn, hired and trained many young men over the years, including his own sons, three of whom have chosen the construction and trucking business as their profession, as well.He was a perfect father for boys, a fun dad but strict when he needed to be. He supported them in all their pursuits, recreated with them and taught them the value of hard work and respect for other people.Don’s special interests were coaching Little League and church basketball games, gardening and landscaping, raising horses, hunting, enjoying his cabin in Star Valley and always supporting his kids and Helen in their endeavors. He had a special gift for making friends of people of all ages and usually developed with each acquaintance a cute little connection or nickname of some kind.He was well-known for his sense of humor, his wit and his tall stories. He was his family’s provider, teacher, counselor and loyal friend, a fine and much loved father and grandfather.Don is survived by his wife, Helen; five sons, Mitchell, Martin (Lisa), Blane (Sherrie), Hal (Nancy) and Ken (Vickie); 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Cambrie, and a daughter-in-law, Sandra.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 5, at 11 a.m. in the Boulter St. LDS Chapel at 1480 East 13006 South in Draper.Viewings will be held Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday morning from 9:30 until 10:45 at the same building. Internment will be at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery, 1950 East 10600 South in Sandy, Utah.