Judge Dar Cogswell, 94

Judge Dar Cogswell, 94, passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2021 in Sandpoint, Idaho. He was comforted by Joann, his loving wife of 71 years, and family members.

Dar was born on October 23, 1927 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the son of Homer and Rena Cogswell. He graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School where he excelled in sports, being named to the All State Basketball Team in 1946. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Germany and Austria.

Returning to the United States, Dar married Joann Spencer on August 26, 1950 in Coeur d’Alene. He enrolled in the University of Idaho where he received a law degree in 1953, and opened his law practice in Coeur d’Alene, associating with attorney, J. Ward Arney.

A move presented itself in 1955 to live in Sandpoint, his favorite place of all in our great state, and to form a law partnership that lasted for 13 years with Glenn Bandelin. During this time Dar served as city attorney and school board attorney while also practicing general law in Sandpoint. In 1967 Dar was elected a state of Idaho District Judge and held this office for over 20 years, retiring from the bench in 1987. During this time, Dar, on occasion, served as Justice Pro Tem on the Idaho Supreme Court, was elected President of the District Judges Association, and was a 13-year member of the State Judicial Council. As a member of the Idaho Judicial Council, he participated in the nomination of three Supreme Court Justices, eight District Court judges, and the original three justices of the newly formed Idaho Appellate Court. Upon retirement from the bench he again practiced law with the firm of Cooke, Lamanna, Smith and Cogswell until his final retirement in 1994.

Some of his proudest achievements were receiving the Professional Award from the Idaho State Bar, attaining a 50 year membership to the State Bar Association, serving as a Charter Member of Sandpoint Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, and being a member of the First Lutheran Church.

Dar was a family man, enjoying traveling and an assortment of outdoor activities with his wife, children, and grandchildren, including salmon fishing on Vancouver Island, cross-country jaunts to most of the 50 states, early morning duck hunts, and enjoying the beauty that our country offers.

Dar was preceded in death by his parents Homer and Rena, his half-brother, Floyd Tacklind; and his son-in-law, James Paulsen.

Dar is survived by his loving wife, Joann Cogswell of Sandpoint; three children, Christi Paulsen of Sagle, Kevin (Kaye) Cogswell of Othello, Washington, and Sarah (Scott) Ryan of Libby, Montana; three grandchildren, Leah (Bryant) Lopez of Othello and their son, Simon, Gunnar (Julia) Paulsen of Boulder, Colorado, and Wesley (Kiley) Cogswell of Walla Walla, Washington. He is also survived by nephews and nieces from the Tacklind family.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 2021, at the First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint with Pastor Steve Neuder officiating.

The family would like to thank Dar’s caregivers at Luther Park and the loving hands of the Auburn Crest Hospice team who so graciously cared for Dar. Memorial donations may be made to the Bonner Community Food Center, 1707 Culvers Drive, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Dar’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.