Al Kozell

Al was born on June 13, 1925 at St Joseph Hospital in Lorain, Ohio. He was the son of Alexander and Juliana Kozell. Al grew up in Lorain, Ohio.

Al was raised with two siblings. He had an older sister Madge and a younger sister Lenore. Al was usually involved in all sorts of activities with his siblings. He and his siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years.

As a young boy, Al had a number of interests. Like most children, he enjoyed playing and making up games. He was curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. He was an altar boy at St Theresa's Church. In his spare time he liked model airplanes. However, to Al, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with his friends.

A typical teenager, Al had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He graduated from Lorain High School in 1943. He enjoyed some classes more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Algebra.

Al enjoyed his college years, which may have been a challenge with all of the academics, responsibilities, and the sudden freedom that accompanied them, but Al was able to manage the balancing act. He earned his Bachelor's degree at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. His favorite courses were in Architecture. There he met Lois Isabel Rosenkranz..

Al and Lois fell in love and were married on September 4th, 1948 at St Ladislaus Church in Lorain, Ohio. Empathic and loyal, Al was committed to making his new family happy.

Al worked hard to be a good father and he did his best to fulfill the needs of his family. Al was blessed with one child, Gregory Scott Kozell. Another blessing for Al was the gift of three granddaughters, Candace, Courtney and Ashley.

Fortunately, Al enjoyed what he did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Al worked diligently and did his best to succeed in his career. His primary occupation was Golf Pro. Al always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Al was a veteran of the United States Air Force. While in service he achieved ranks of Aerial Gunner and then Staff Sargent. Al saw action for World War II. He received several decorations including; Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, European, Africa, Middle East Theater Ribbon with 6 Bronze Star, Aerial Gunner Wings and 1 Overseas Bar. His fellow soldiers viewed him as a brother in arms and knew that he was as much a part of their family as their loved ones back home.

Al enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuit was cooking. He was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Al found pleasure in sports. In his college years, Al continued to stay active by swimming. Al was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he had the chance to do so.

In retirement, he found much pleasure in cooking and swimming. Even in retirement, Al continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. Al was active in his new community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

Simply stated, Al was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by his family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Al leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life he touched will always remember Al Kozell.