John Cosgrove, 52, resident and beloved community member of Castro Valley, CA succumbed to Pancreatic Cancer after a 3 1/2 year battle, and died Tuesday morning at his home, surrounded by his family.

John was raised in Palatine, Il and was preceded in death by his parents, Tom & Iris Cosgrove.

John loved the outdoors and hiking and finding beautiful waterfalls. He loved his family, his work and all the people he worked with and those that he served. After several years in the electricity business, then the candy business with the Knudsen family, he found his place at Knudsen’s Ice Creamery, again, with the Knudsen family.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Vicki, his son Elliot, his daughter Taryn and her new husband, Eduard Sandulyak. He is also survived by the brothers who took such good care of him, and their families, Kevin and his wife Connie, Mike, Steve and his wife Laura & Pat and his wife Jennifer. He also leaves behind his loving in-laws, David & Kathy Knudsen, Jay & Sarah Knudsen, Tod & Carrie Knudsen and Ty & Monica Knudsen. He is further survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Services will be held on Monday, July 19th at First Baptist Church of Castro Valley at 11am, followed by a reception at Knudsen’s Ice Creamery. The family requests that you not wear black. Wearing purple will be preferred.

Memorial funds are set up at The Wellness Community in Walnut Creek (http://www.twc-bayarea.org/eastbay/donate.html) and at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (http://www.pancan.org/section_donate/donate_now.php) and the family requests all donations go there.

If you are interested in joining the fight against Pancreatic Cancer, please join PanCan.org’s mailing list (http://www.pancan.org/join_mailing_list.php). Your Congress People and Senators have a huge effect on how much money goes to research and you can play a part in convincing them that this is a worthy appropriation by going to http://pancan.org/section_get_involved/advocate/congressional_update.php.