In Loving Memory
Dr. Robert Cozine
August 23, 1931 - January 23, 2022

The service will be live streamed on the Martin-Mattice Funeral Home Facebook page.

The family encourages that masks be worn at the visitation and the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward a scholarship, established by the family, for local high school seniors to pursue a career in medicine, Horizon's Unlimited or a charity of personal choice.

VISITATION
Friday, January 28, 2022
4:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
Emmetsburg, Iowa

SERVICE
Saturday, January 29, 2022
10:30 A.M.
The Shores at Five Island
Emmetsburg, Iowa

CLERGY
Rev. Mike Shaffer
United Methodist Church
Garner, Iowa

INURNMENT
To be held at a later date.
Crown Hill Cemetery
Ruthven, Iowa

Robert Lee Cozine was born on Sunday, August 23, 1931, to Alice (Tolbert) and Gerald Cozine in Lewistown, Illinois.

Bob left high school to attend Western Illinois State Teachers College, now Western Illinois University at age 15, graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry and earning his high school diploma at 18. His childhood dream of becoming a physician was advanced when he was accepted at the University of Chicago School of Medicine. In 1954, he graduated from medical school at the head of his class. Bob was married to Mary Argo, a fellow student at McComb. They had two sons, Gary and Mark Cozine.

During medical school, he worked summers at a number of physically demanding jobs, including as a coal shoveler for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. From this experience was born a love of steam trains that continued throughout his life.

Following medical school, he was selected for an exclusive surgical internship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. During his years there, Johns Hopkins became known for the life-saving surgical techniques that are commonplace today. It was not an easy life, and he was on duty 24/7 throughout his internship.

In 1955, he was selected for a military program called the Doctor Draft. He was allowed to choose which branch to join and became a Navy surgeon, with two years of active duty at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was serving as "Officer of the Day" when Senator Lyndon Johnson was hospitalized for a heart attack. His duty included the dissemination of information about the senator's condition to the press. He was also in charge of keeping unwanted visitors at bay, including other senators.

Following his active duty, he earned a Fellowship and Assistant in Urology at Johns Hopkins University. He continued to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve and received an honorable discharge as Lieutenant Commander.

Bob began his family practice in Manassas, VA and then over the course of the next several decades, he was licensed and practiced in six states. He worked at the Emmetsburg Medical Clinic for 23 years where he was also a clinical instructor in family practice for Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN. After closing his practice, he spent his remaining years as an emergency room physician in Wisconsin and Iowa. He retired from active practice in 2014 but maintained an active medical license until his death.

Beginning in his college days, when he rebuilt a dilapidated car that had been abandoned, he was fascinated with all things mechanical. He learned to fly and enjoyed owning and flying his own planes.

Bob married his true love, Nancy (Haar) Nielson, in 1985 which brought him three additional daughters, Laura, Jane, and Bridget. He always thought of them as HIS girls.

Bob was dedicated to his calling as a physician. Each time he attended a birth, his joy in life was renewed. He treated all people equally and without bias. He was a good listener and a life-long learner. Whether it was studying foreign languages online, reading a calculus textbook for "fun" or learning how to weld at age 80, his thirst for knowledge was unquenched.

Bob's most trustworthy and respected co-worker was his soulmate, Nancy. Together, they provided medical care for thousands of patients over their years working together. They were truly devoted to one another. Their kindness, patience, and supportive presence for one another is an everlasting bond of love which death cannot overcome.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife Nancy; sons Gary (Shelly) Cozine; Mark (Deb) Cozine; daughters Laura Nielson Petersen, Jane (Steve) Hoyman, and Bridget Riversmith. His grandchildren include Jerud (Cassy) Cozine, Joshua (Coleen) Cozine, Katy Martin, Leah (Jon Lane) Martin, Emily Cozine, Peter (Lauren Milne) Cozine, Miranda (Matthew) Pontarelli, Natalie Gordon, Olivia Gordon, Rachel Miner,  Henry Miner, Joel (Haily) Hoyman, Jordan Hoyman and Bret Hoyman; great-grandchildren Ethan, Adrian, James, and Emma R. Cozine, Maizie Hoyman, and Emma L. Cozine is soon to arrive. He is lovingly remembered by his sister-in-law, Joan (Ron) Eisenstein, former daughter-in-law, Pam (Tim Knapp) Cantley, many nieces and nephews, other loved ones and friends, former colleagues, and patients.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Alice Cozine, siblings Marilyn (Vernon) Olson, William (Mabel) Cozine, and Richard (Cathy) Cozine; son-in-law Edgewood Smith; and many good dogs.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home