John L. Cosgrove, 81, of Reliance, SD will be buried at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 6, 2025 next to his wife in the Reliance Cemetery at Reliance, SD.

Johnny Lee Cosgrove was born September 6th, 1944 to Royal and Naomi (Ocheltree) Cosgrove of Reliance, South Dakota. John went to grade school at North Cooper School. He then graduated from Reliance High School in 1962.

After graduating, John served in the Vietnam War from February 27, 1965 and was Honorably Discharged on April 18, 1967. The day he came home from the war, John got on his motorcycle and wrecked, breaking one of his legs. On October 1st, 1988, John married Alice Stewart after an extended courtship.

The couple had a dairy farm where several local girls from town worked. John also raised Piedmont cattle and sold meat from one side of the state to the other. When he was younger, John worked for several farmers as a hired man. He also worked for a construction company in Wilmott, S.D., building roads in Oklahoma and Texas.

While John wasn't comfortable visiting your home, he could talk for hours on the phone and was likely to call back with something he'd forgotten to say. John also carried on the family fudge tradition by becoming an avid fudge maker, often making it every night!

John passed away December 31st, 2025 at home.

John is survived by sisters Marlys (and Garry) Swanson, Chamberlain, South Dakota; June Griffith, Mooreland, Oklahoma; and Ruth Ann McManus, Reliance, South Dakota, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

His wife Alice, parents, sister Corrine Wagaman, and brother Lindy all preceded him in death.