The incredible and amazing life of Josh Cowhey, age 32, was sadly and unexpectedly taken away from his family and friends. He joined his Lord and Savior in heaven on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Josh was a lifelong resident of the Prior Lake Community.
Join Josh’s family to celebrate the life he lived and how he lived it on Saturday, September 30, 2017. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12 (noon), with a time of gathering two hours prior, both at Friendship Church 17741 Fairlawn Avenue, Prior Lake, MN. Pastor Josh Johnson will preside. Pall bearers will be Brett Ayres, Joe Bendlin, Adam Bond, Mark Gjerde, Ryan Gjerde, Danny Hawkins, Chris Johnson, Grant Judish, Troy Mullin, Tom Smith, Rochne “Rocky” Tibbetts Jr. and Zach Zander. He will be laid to rest at Spring Lake Cemetery.
The Lord presented the proud parents of Thomas and Sharon (Wasson) Cowhey a beautiful son. They named him Joshua Emmett Thomas Cowhey born on April 10, 1985, in Burnsville, MN. From his very first breath, Thom and Sharon and big sister Katie knew they had a special little boy. Josh was born with a congenital heart defect known as Transposition of the Great Vessels. However, through all of life’s trials and tribulations of the defect, he lived a very full, active and amazing life.
As a little boy, Josh enjoyed karate, baseball and basketball. Then, at the age of 9, Josh took a strong interest in music and began playing the drums. He took a few lessons and was hooked. He quickly began to pick up the technique on his own and the rest is history. He and Thom loved to listen to Todd Rundgren’s song “Bang On the Drum All Day” and those lyrics became his theme song… “I don’t want to work, I just want to bang on the drum all day!!!” Through the years, Josh played in several bands and for many years at Harbor Church and Friendship Church, where they were blessed with his great rhythm and professionalism.
Josh also had a passion for cars and motorcycles. His friends all cherish memories of the days cruising around town in his Firebird. After graduating from Prior Lake High School in 2003, Josh worked various jobs. He and Thom bought motorcycles together and learned to ride. Josh also became an avid drone pilot using his talent to take breathtaking pictures and video. He was quick to lend his talents out to family, friends, the church and share his work on Facebook. Through his former youth group leader and mentor, Mark Gjerde, Josh secured a job working for him at Solar Shield as a driver. Josh couldn’t have been happier driving all those fast and expensive cars.
No one will forget Josh’s love of movies, Batman, gadgets and fireworks but what Josh loved most was spending time with his many friends and family. Motorcycle, RV, camping, and Hawaii trips were some of the highlights of his life but he was just as happy hanging out at a bonfire or in the basement. Children always seemed to love Josh and in 2009 he became an Uncle. He shared a special bond with his niece Grace who loved him very deeply. A few years later Josh met Gus, a Black Lab/Airedale mix puppy, who would grow to 125 lbs and become his best buddy.
Josh had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. As a founding member of Harbor Church he served on the worship team and as a youth group leader. Josh was also active in the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Friendship Church, IFI Prison ministry, and could generally be found anywhere God called him. Josh often shared his powerful personal testimony of faith at retreats or in small groups. Even more powerful of a testimony was how Josh lived his life. He gave freely of his time, his door was always open, and he was never too busy or proud to help someone who really needed it.
Josh will be forever in the hearts and forever missed by parents, Thom and Sharon; sister, Katie (Chris) Johnson; uncle, Robert (Eva) Wasson; cousin, Aimee Jarnot; niece, Grace Johnson; grandparents, Albert and Harriet Wasson; extended family, Mary LaBree, Tim Johnson, Laura Reliford; many loving relatives and devoted friends.
There to welcome him home in heaven were his grandparents, Thomas Sr. and Ella Cowhey.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Prior Lake Chapel, proudly served and cared for the Cowhey family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
