WILLIAM FRANK KOZELKA 1887-1986

KOTERA, KOZELKA, TAYEK, WILLARD, HENRY, KUCERA

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/22/2009 at 11:03:26

William Kozelka of Postville died May 20 at the Good Samaritan Center here.

A funeral mass was held Friday at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Postville. The Rev. Paul Otting officiated.

The mass servers were Dan Sadler and Steve Schlee. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery, Prairie du Chien, WI.

Casket bearers: Thomas Kozelka, Richard Kozelka, George Kucera, Reuben Tayek, Donald Tayek and Durwood Schutta.

William Frank Kozelka, son of Thomas and Josephine (Kotera) Kozelka, was born July 8, 1887 in Crawford County, WI.

He spent his boyhood days on a farm in Crawford County, where he attended a rural school. At the age of 16 he moved to Prairie du Chien, where he learned the shoe repairing business. His father purchased a blacksmith and wagon shop where Bill worked for 4 years painting wagons.

He went to Stoughton, WI where he was employed in a shoe factory as an apprentice for 6 months, returning to Prairie du Chien to paint barns and houses. During this time he played the cornet in a dance band in his home area.

Early in 1911 he opened a shoe store in Postville which he operated for 41 years, retiring in 1952.

On Aug. 1, 1911 he was married to Elizabeth Tayek at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monona. They had 2 children.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1959, a daughter, Eileen Willard, who died in 1946, 3 brothers, Albert, Henry and Emmanuel and 4 sisters, Mary (Mrs. William Henry), Agnes (Mrs. Joseph Kucera) and Rose and Alvina Kozelka.

Surviving are a son, Edward, Postville, a granddaughter, Gail of Olypmia, WA, 2 great-grandchildren, a brother, Ralph, Prairie du Chien, WI and several nieces and nephews.

He was a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church and the Postville City Band. For many years he had been active in bowling and in 1964 was elected to the Bowling Hall of Fame.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping, hand dated 1986, from my mother's obituary collection.
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