Obituaries : Joseph F. Kozlik

Joseph Kozlik

Joseph Kozlik

Joseph F. Kozlik, 87, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Salem United Methodist Church in Van Horne with Pastor Norman Bennett officiating. Interment will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown, with graveside military rites conducted by M.J. Kirby American Legion Post #170 of Blairstown. Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

A memorial fund has been established.

Joseph was born Nov. 3, 1924, at Luzerne, to Joseph A. and Bertha (Sauerteig) Kozlik and graduated from Newhall High School in 1941. During World War II, he served his nation in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Purple Heart while serving in Germany.

On Nov. 28, 1948, he was united in marriage to Helen Christensen at Blairstown.

Joseph farmed and was a rural mail carrier. He was a member of Salem United Methodist Church in Van Horne, the M.J. Kirby American Legion Post #170 of Blairstown, and the Van Horne Lions Club. He loved his family, his country and the land.

He is survived by his wife, Helen of Van Horne; his son, Brian (Kuulei) Kozlik of Longwood, Fla.; his daughters, Barbara (Marlin) Petersen of Marion, and Carol Kozlik and friend John Erickson of Iowa City; his grandchildren, Jennifer (Eric) Johnson of Florida, and Ian (Meredith) Petersen of Cedar Rapids; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Christian Alan Petersen; his sister, Mary Yeries; and his brother, George Kozlik.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.