Wesley R. Gossard

Wes was born in Winner, SD, on September 18, 1957, to Lila (Dykeman) and Kenneth Gossard. Wes attended Colorado Aero Tech (now known as Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology) in Broomfield, CO, earning an Airframe/ Powerplant Inspection Authorization License. While in Broomfield, he earned his private pilot’s license. After completing his education he returned to South Dakota to become a rancher and pilot.

Wes received commercial, multi-engine, and instruments ratings throughout his career. He had various jobs as a pilot and a mechanic. He was involved with maintenance on DC-3s at Lockheed Constellation in Northern Quebec. To accumulate private flying hours he flew pipeline patrol based in Thermopolis, WY. He was first officer/maintenance on a DC-7 on a Locust contract in North Africa. He was first officer/maintenance on a Boeing 377 Guppy. He also was a Captain on a Neptune and DC-4 in California, dropping fire retardant on wildfires.

In 1990 he moved his family to St. John, WA, to work for an agricultural spraying and fertilizing company, which he eventually purchased. In 2009 he began working in Winnemucca, NV, for USDA/Wildlife Service, flying a Supercub on predator control, until he retired in 2021.

Wes built an experimental Supercub which he used in his ag business and for personal backcountry trips. He also owned a 1959 Piper Comanche. Overall, Wes had more than 16,500 hours of commercial and private flight hours over his lifetime.

When Wes moved to Winnemucca, he told his family he had one more build in him, which was his shop and home.

Wes enjoyed playing guitars, banjos, and mandolins when not building a project.

Wesley R Gossard, age 67, passed away at his home in Winnemucca, NV, on June 20, 2025. He is survived by his wife Cindy and daughters Casey (Jared), Aja, Sydney; step children Sara Eggers (Keith) and Kyle Eggers; his sister Kena (Tony); sister-in-law Jan; and four grandchildren.

Wes is preceded in death by his daughter Brook, brother Doug, and parents Ken and Lila.

No memorial service is planned at this time.