On Saturday, May 15, 2021, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, Tanya Wenzel passed away at the age of 54.
Tanya was born on June 1, 1966 in Alliance, NE to William and Karin (Orthaus) Kosmicki. When she was six years old, she moved to Emsdetten, Germany with her mother and brother. They lived there for seven years before returning to Alliance. She graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 1985. She moved to Texas after graduation, where she met her husband, RJ. They were married on February 21, 1987. They raised three daughters—Amber, Olyvia, and Elizabeth. She was the apartment manager of many, large communities before realizing she only wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher to her children. She was also a foster mom to many children over the years and opened her home and her heart to any child who needed her.
After her diagnosis, the family decided to move back to Alliance to be closer to her family. Family was everything to Tanya. Her family extended to the friends she loved so dearly. Her circle was large.
She was very spiritual, and her faith continually grew stronger. She believed in the power of prayer, and it helped her overcome many obstacles.
Tanya credited the Gerson Therapy, an alternative treatment of disease, for beating the odds. She felt so strongly that this treatment could save countless lives, she started a Facebook group called the Gerson Therapy Support Group. It was not an easy path to take, so Tanya knew how much a group like this could help other people fighting to live. It started out with a couple dozen followers, but it is now up to over 29,000 members! This is simply another example of her selflessness and compassion for others.
Tanya was preceded in death by her mother, Karin Kosmicki, her step-sisters, Michele Wisdorf and Lori Rosane, and her grandparents, Doc and Blanche Kosmicki. She is survived by her husband, RJ, her three daughters, Amber Porath, (Ben), Olyvia Shaw, (Zachery), and Elizabeth, her father and stepmother, Bill and Herta Kosmicki, her brother, Jason Kosmicki, (Dawn), her sister, Julie Weems, (Jeremy), her stepsister, Trisha Rosane, (Ron), and her stepbrother, Ted Dillon, (Liz), her grandson, Jaxon, and a grandson and a granddaughter on the way. She is also survived by her nieces, nephews, aunt, many cousins, and countless friends, including her very best, lifelong friend, Susan Behm-Boland.
No funeral or memorial service is immediately planned, but a Rosary and memorial service will be held in Alliance in August. The family will notify loved ones in the future when the service is scheduled. In lieu of flowers, a savings account will be set up at Western Heritage Credit Union in Alliance for Tanya and RJ’s youngest daughter, Elizabeth.