Submitted by: Dan Rich

Don J. Koz

Feb. 18, 1924 - Feb. 12, 2001

South Bend Tribune 2/14/2001

Don J. Koz, 76, of Hickory Road, South Bend, Ind., passed away following an illness at 9:40 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 12, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. He was born on Feb. 18, 1924, in South Bend, to Joseph and Harriet Kozorowski, who preceded him in death.

On July 24, 1948, in South Bend, he married Melbadeane M. Kelly. She survives with four daughters, Kathi (Phil) Begley of South Bend, Donna (Gary) Birchler of Stillwater, Okla., Deb (Robert) Fox of South Bend and Marilyn Stacy of South Bend; a son, Kerry D. (Bridgett) Koz of Argos, Ind.; three sisters, Marie Fogle, Irene Kroll and Lori Plefka, all of South Bend. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Angie Tamm, Nikki Whitson, Missy Zyto, Jessica Zyto, Allison Birchler, Jamie Stacy, Ryan Stacy, Brady Koz and Kara Koz; and by a great-grandchild, Lexie Tamm/Eiteljorge.

Mr. Koz was a teacher and coach in the South Bend Community Schools of Muessel, South Bend Central and Thomas Edison. As a student he played for John Wooden and, in 1942, was a member of the Conference Championship Team from South Bend Central. He played basketball and baseball at Indiana State University and was an all-around athlete in all sports. He was a member of the Blue Key Honor Society at Indiana State University. He was a former member of the South Bend Elks and a member of the Teachers Union N.E.A., and St. Anthony Catholic Church, South Bend. After retirement he worked as a sports writer for the South Bend Tribune for three years. He was an avid Notre Dame fan, and a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Bubb Funeral Chapel North, where friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today. Officiating the services Thursday will be Father Terry Fisher. Burial will follow the services Thursday at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind.