Obituary of Phil (Filko) KOZOKOWSKY

November 28, 1931 – Angusville, Manitoba

December 20, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with sadness that the family announces Philip Kozokowsky passed away peacefully on Friday, December 20, 2019 with family at his side.  Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a gloomy prognosis was diagnosed when Phil was 55; a forced uncertainty was palpable but Phil succeeded in living a fine retirement and a full life for the past thirty-two years. 

Born to immigrant parents Michael and Justyna, who fled the wars and woes of Poland and Ukraine to forge new beginnings in Manitoba, Phil’s story is not an unfamiliar Canadian one, a story of dedication to family and career with an overarching theme to prevail and adapt notwithstanding a humble beginning. Phil met the shy and beautiful Eunice at a teacher’s college dance and was smitten; he persuaded her to give him her phone number. They were married on April 17, 1954 and together they embarked on a life adventure of sixty-five years; he was Titan to Eunice as his Saturn. Phil’s career began as a rural one room school teacher and culminated as a city high school principal. Early years as a teacher/principal were spent in the communities of Hodgson and Argyle, MB. In 1958 Phil and Eunice moved to Snow Lake, MB, a booming northern mining town that presented both challenges and opportunities in education.  The first high school yearbook contained a dedication to Phil: “To Kuzzy who really is a softie at heart.” Phil contributed to the community in his role on the board of the Snow Lake Music Festival; music education was important to Phil and Eunice and they ensured that their children learned to play an instrument. Phil worked as a foreman of a crew during the summers building houses and learned to assay gold for the mining company to earn extra income so that he could pursue his university education. Consequently, Phil’s tenacity and resolve paid off and he attended the University of Manitoba for several summers earning his Bachelor of Arts and Education degrees amidst the distractions and disruptions of four children.   

In 1967 a move to Winnipeg led to the principalship of Shaftesbury High School where Phil presided for fourteen years. He served his community of St. James Assiniboia as a member of The Optimist Club.  Family summers were spent camping and enjoying the lakes of Manitoba and Ontario as well as the Rockies of Banff and Waterton Lakes National Parks with his sister Ann and her family, and Eunice’s parents. Phil’s pre-retirement years were spent introducing and implementing computers in elementary and junior high schools in the Pembina Trails School Division. 

Retirement brought Phil and Eunice the joys of designing and building a home together at Belair on Lake Winnipeg where their children and grandchildren have fond memories of playing in the pool, boating, card and board games, making raspberry jam, and enjoying Eunice’s blueberry pies and pancakes made with the wild blueberries Phil had picked.  Winters were spent in Weslaco, Texas where new and wonderful friendships were made and Phil nourished his artistic side by honing his skills at wood carving.  His carvings in addition to his oil paintings grace their home.  In 2006 Phil and Eunice moved to Calgary, AB and enjoyed wintering at their resort condo in Osoyoos, BC.

Phil will be greatly missed by his wife Eunice (nee Schellenberg); four children, Karen (Geraldt) Gerrits, Pamela (Gordon) Brown, Gregory (Lisa) Kozokowsky, and Todd (Pamela) Kozokowsky; grandchildren, Michael (Heather), Lara (Westley), Christopher (Olivia), Kimberley, Crystal (Aaron), James (Jolene), Holly (Skyler), and Kyra; and five great- grandchildren.  Predeceased by an older sister Rose and a sister -in- law Geraldine, Phil leaves to mourn two younger siblings, Ann (Walter) Potolicki and Joseph Kozokowsky (Eileen Heap). 

Celebration of Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Southwood Hospice Intercare Corp Group, 211 Heritage Drive SE Calgary Alberta T2H 1M9, Telephone: 403-252-1194. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Phil’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

Day dawns, then comes the twilight grey,

The limit of the live-long day;

For weary people sleep seems best

And all God’s creatures go to rest

                                           “Taras Shevchenko”

                                  Excerpt from “My Friendly Epistle”

The family expresses deep appreciation to the team at Southwood Hospice who provided such loving care to Phil in his last months of life. 

A tree will be planted in living memory of Filko Kozokowsky. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD SE, CALGARY, Ab, t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403- 256-9575.