Obituary of LEO KOZAK

In the early hours of Friday, October 11^th, 2024, Leo Kozak passed away peacefully in his sleep, at the age of 77.   

Leo was born in Medika, Manitoba on April 14^th, 1947.  Dad grew up experiencing life in rural Manitoba: hunting, fishing, trapping and spending time outside.  He played hockey with his friends on the frozen ditches and rivers near home.  In high school, Leo drove the school bus, picking up the residents of the area so they could all attend classes.  

Growing up and working on the farm instilled in him a very strong work ethic, and dad demonstrated that industrious attitude in a variety of jobs.  He worked on the construction of the flood way, as a sales rep with 7Up, as a delivery driver at Gondola Pizza, and ultimately took on independent ventures like owning and operating an ice cream truck, masonry and stucco work and finally running Kozak’s Place Variety Centre.  After selling the business in 2006 dad retired.  In recent years, Leo acted as a hunting guide with his life-long friend Myron, but nothing filled him with more pride than joining his son Derek on construction jobs and sharing his lifetime of experience and knowledge.

Dad was an exceptionally hard worker.  As a carpenter and brick layer, he put his fullest effort into his profession, determined to approach his work with the sole purpose of providing a solid home for his family.  Leo took on the construction of three homes for himself, Marlene and the boys, all located on Pritchard Farm Rd in East St. Paul. Dad loved his family and the community he was a part of.

In the 1970s, Dad took a trip to Hawaii, kicking off a life-long love for the island of Oahu.  Dad enjoyed nothing more than inviting his friends and family to vacation with him there, and sharing the wonders of the island with as many people as he could.  He introduced his parents, his in-laws, his brothers and their families, as well as countless friends and neighbours to the destination he deemed the most beautiful place in the world.  He owns the largest collection of annually numbered shirts outside the Hawaiian islands.  He will be sorely missed in his unofficial role as “ambassador” for the Honolulu Tourist bureau, and by the staff at the Waikiki Resort Hotel.

In the 1990s, Leo decided to leave the brick-laying profession and purchased Kozak’s Place Variety Centre, located on Henderson Hwy.  Dad spent the next 14 summers building his business based on integrity and dependability that his customers came to expect from him.  

Leo was exceptionally personable.  He could strike up a conversation with almost anyone, often sharing stories of his youth.  It wouldn’t take long for him to identify the seemingly obscure way in which he was connected to virtually anyone. 

Leo is pre-deceased by his parents Anna and Steve Kozak of Medika, Manitoba, his father-in-law Alex Turchyn, his brother Bill and his sister-in-law Patsy.  Left to honour his memory are his loving, dedicated wife of 52 years, Marlene, his mother-in-law Verna Turchyn, his sons Jeff (Maria), Derek (Candace) and Evan (Rebekah), his two grandchildren, Aidan and Kaylee, his brothers Mike (Shirley) and Eddy, and sister-in-law Shirley in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.  Thank you to the first responders who arrived at our home that night for their unwavering efforts, and local RCMP officers on duty that night for showing our family and our father the respect and care he deserved.  Вічная пам’ять.

A funeral liturgy will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 19^th at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Parish, 505 Watt Street.  Officiant will be Father Michael Winn. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Riverside Cemetery, Prawda, MB

Pallbearers: Andy Bannerman, John Busilla, Robert Erstelle, Mike Kozak, Myron Lamaga and Terry Panych.