Kozak, DeWayne L. 1937-2014

KOZAK, MELICHAR, OORLOG

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 12/11/2014 at 10:11:01

Sioux City Journal
November 03, 2014

LE MARS, Iowa | DeWayne L. Kozak, 77, of Le Mars passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Oct. 31, 2014, at his home in Le Mars.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Le Mars Bible Church, with the Rev. Fred Gums officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery at Le Mars. Visitation will begin 3 p.m. today, with the family present to greet friends 5 to 7 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Mauer–Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. There will also be one hour of visitation prior to the service Tuesday at the church.

DeWayne Laddie Kozak was born on Aug. 11, 1937, in Wagner, S.D., to Laddie and Rose (Melichar) Kozak. He graduated from Tabor High School in 1955. DeWayne furthered his education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he majored in music. During this time he served in the South Dakota National Guard.

DeWayne purchased a Phillips 66 service station in Vermillion and operated it for several years. Along with the station, he formed a music group called DeWayne Kozak and his Orchestra. The orchestra played in several places around the area and appeared often with Lawrence Welk.

On April 4, 1964, DeWayne and Nyla Oorlog were united in marriage at Olivet, S.D. One year later, they moved to Yankton, S.D., and DeWayne worked at Montgomery Ward. In 1969, the family moved to Le Mars. DeWayne first operated a Jewel T sales route. He later took a position with CM Corporation and developed nursing homes in the area. When CM closed, he took a position with Dynamic Homes selling modular housing and Chemical Sanitizing Services (CSS) as a sales rep. His last occupation prior to retirement was developing a marketing plan for Lally’s Restaurant to promote the sale of their BBQ sauce and salad dressings.

DeWayne was a longtime member of the Le Mars Bible Church. He enjoyed fishing with his boys and watching Animal Planet. He was a conversationalist and loved to visit with anyone he met.

He will be lovingly remembered by his three sons, Darrin and Kathy of Glidden, Iowa, Mike of Akron, Iowa, and Chris and Dena of Brentwood, Tenn.; grandchildren, Erica, Alison and Katelynn and her fiancé, Nathan Johnston, Christopher and Joslyn Pappadackis and Stephanie Pappadackis; a great-grandson, Levi; a sister and her husband, Jude and Gene Peterson of Buena Vista, Colo.; a brother and his wife, Laddie and Zoe Kozak of Estherville, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Nyla on Aug. 12, 2014; and an infant sister, Delores.