Memorable Manitobans: Joseph Kozak (1936-2011)

Educator, beekeeper.

Born at Yellow Creek, Saskatchewan in 1936, son of Bohdan Kozak and Mary Ridzuk, he was raised by his father and grandparents John Kozak and Eudoxia Kozak. He attended high school at Yellow Creek and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan (BSc) and University of Manitoba (BEd). He taught at Manitou School (1960-?) and was the Vice-Principal and Principal of Nellie McClung Collegiate (c1972-1987) in Manitou after which he was the Principal at Crystal City School (1987-1990) before taking partial retirement, traveling to Churchill and briefly teaching there. Returning to southern Manitoba, he returned to the classroom, teaching at Nellie McClung Collegiate (?-1992) until full retirement. His hobbies included apiary and commercial produce production of garlic and Manitoba Maple syrup, the latter of which lead towards his organization of the Manitou Honey Garlic Maple Syrup Food Festival. He was twice married, first to Marian McRae (c1934-2004) and later to his second wife, Dorothy, who he wed in 2007. Following a seven-year battle with cancer, he died at the Boundary Trails Hospital on 13 July 2011.

Sources:

Obituary [Marian Kozak], Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 2004, page 32.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 3 August 2011, page C9.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 18 May 2015

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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