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Willie's obituary

Ernest "Willie" Cosky Jr, 72, of Chico, CA, passed away on January 16, 2026 after a short, but hard-fought battle with cancer.

Willie was born (and named Fabian Sebastian Luna Jr) on November 7, 1953 to birth parents he never had the opportunity to meet in Santa Rosa, California. Days later he was adopted by Ernest and Thelma Cosky. After graduating from Willows High School in 1971, he joined the US Air Force. After returning from service, he worked for the US Forest Service as the Fleet Manager of both the Mendocino National Forest and then on to the Angeles National Forest. In 1977 he married Cynthia Burba and they had one son, William Robert Cosky.  They divorced in 1981 and Willie never remarried. After his dad Ernie passed away in 1998 he moved home to take care of his mom Thelma who passed in 2020. Willie went on to be a member of the security team at both Rolling Hills Casino and Colusa Casino. In 2021 Willie met his biological sister Francelia (Fran/Pudgy) Luna and her side of the family. Willie was predeceased by his parents Ernie Cosky (1998) and Thelma Cosky (2020), his brother Larry Ackerman (1990) and cousins and aunts and uncles too numerous to mention. He is survived by his son William Cosky (and Julie Cosky), grandson Maximus Robert Cosky, granddaughter Faith Elizabeth Cosky, sister Laurie Bernard, sister Fran Luna and many more cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers please feel free to donate to Willie's grandkids' college fund. There will be a short graveside service at Willows Cemetery at 11am Friday February 20th followed by a celebration of life at RoundTable Pizza in Willows starting at 11:30am.

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Ernest "Willie" Cosky Jr