Thursday, October 1, 2026
Suzann Leigh Kossian, a resident of Monitor, Washington, passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 3, 2026, surrounded by her family at her home. Born in San Luis Obispo, California on June 23, 1959, Suzann grew up in Fair Oaks, California where her parents helped start the Orangevale Evangelical Covenant Church, where Suzann accepted Jesus as her best friend at age 5; the best decision of her life. In highschool she enjoyed the camraderie of playing basketball and softball with friends.
Suzann put herself through college at Seattle Pacific University, graduating with a sociology degree. During her 2nd summer Suzann met future husband, Eric, while both were staff in hiking and rafting programs at a juvenile prison. Eric and Suzann reconnected in college at a missions prayer group and was soon off on a 6 month long student missions trip administering feeding programs at city sized refugee camps in Thailand for Cambodians fleeing communists. Back home after graduating, she did resettlement work with refugees and, recognizing their need to drive, even started her own driving school as a side hustle, using her black 1967 Volkswagen bug that had no air conditioning!
After 5 yrs of friendship, Eric and Suzann wed on April 7, 1984 and they stuffed what they could into the Volkswagen bug and headed off to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to do evangelism on a small Indian reservation where Suzann got asked to play in an all Indian girls softball league; her team insisting they put her long blond hair in braids so she would "fit in as an Indian." Within a year they were off to a different adventure, living in Holland and smuggling Bibles into Eastern Europe. Their first child, Caleb, who was born in Holland. A few years later, daughter Marika was born in CA and Suzann had to immediately also adjust to being a Type One diabetic (fully insulin dependent). The family moved to the Wenatchee area in 1997, and were their own general contractors on a house Suzann designed herself on CAD software.
Suzann was tireless in prayer and as Eric's sidekick in ministry over the last 15 yrs until Jan 2025 when Suzann's mental health, cognitive function and physical abilities started declining steeply from dementia brought on by her 38 yrs. as a type 1 diabetic. About 10 yrs ago, she started sharing daily Bible verses with friends, a list that slowly grew to over 60 people. She'd often pray for an hour or more, sensing someone among "her people" needed a specific encouragement from God's Word. She was daily in prayer by name for her children, grandchildren, friends, extended relatives and anyone God put on her heart.
Suzann loved making and giving away many flannel baby quilts and loved teaching her granddaughters the joy of baking, starting when they were old enough to sit on the counter. Suzann will be remembered as an incredibly loving mother/grandmother and wife who never let her health challenges stop her from doing things in faith with God anyway. Her smile was always beautiful and welcoming;, her hugs always warm, her disposition always sweet, and her spiritual gift of encouragement helped many. She was literally telling people "Believe in Jesus. Trust Jesus. Love Jesus," the day before she entered glory.
She is survived by husband Eric Kossian of Monitor, WA.; siblings: Vicki Lund (Rick) of Stanwood, WA; Coleen Petersen of Napa, CA; Kent Oldenburger (Kimberly) of Vancouver, WA., and his twin sister, Karen Strysko (Brian) of Templeton, CA., son Caleb (Michelle) of Billings, MT, and their children Asher and Alayah; Daughter Marika, of Cashmere, WA and Marika's daughters, Junia and Sabine. Suzann was preceded in death by parents, Ken Oldenburger in 2016, and Avis Oldenburger in 2020. A memorial service honoring God's life through her will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 11:30 at Living Hope Community Church, 11 North Chelan Avenue Wenatchee WA 98801 with potluck following.
Memorials that will produce new life can be given to HungryGen Church - "Unashamed Clubs", 22 student led evangelism club in over 10 WA public schools where many hundreds are saved annually, but funds are needed to expand into more cities. (Select "Unashamed Clubs" from the dropdown menu then add a Memo: "In memory of Suzann Kossian.") https://hungrygen.churchcenter.com/giving
