Obituary of Lt Col Gerald "Jerry" Michael Kozak, USAF,

Longtime Colorado Springs resident, Gerald "Jerry" Kozak, passed away at age 85 August 16, 2019 after a long battle with heart disease. Jerry was born January 15, 1934 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.�He spent his early years in Donora, Pennsylvania, then in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from Mount St. Joseph College High School, Baltimore, Maryland (1951), he went to Capital Radio Engineering Institute, Washington, D.C. (1953), and then joined the Air Force in 1956. During his twenty-year Air Force career he earned numerous military decorations and qualifications; including the Distinguished Flying Cross, received for heroism in flight during the famous Battle for Khe Sahn flying in supplies under heavy enemy fire; four Air Medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm for his actions, including being one of the first C-130 navigator/bombardiers to drop the 15,000lb Daisy Cutter bomb to create helicopter landing pads in the jungle; and the Senior Missileman and Master Navigator badges. Jerry flew as a navigator in the C-97, SA-16, C-54, T-29 (instructor), C-47, UH-1, and C-130 aircraft and was a MM-II Missile Crew Commander. He also received a BS in Mathematics from the University of Wyoming.In 1976, Jerry retired from the USAF as a Lt. Colonel and started his second career as a high school math teacher at Fountain, Ft. Carson High School, after receiving his teaching license and a BA in Psychology from the University of Southern Colorado. He retired from teaching in 1993.On August 23, 1959 he married the love of his life, Kathleen "Kay" Kozak. Jerry and Kay were married one week shy of sixty years at the time of Jerry's passing. They raised Kay's two children, Carolyn and Kenny, and four more children together, Michael, Stephany, Patrick and Susan. Jerry loved sports of all kinds. He coached little league baseball and youth football. During his teaching career he coached women's basketball, softball, and volleyball, and called many of the high school football games, and track meets. He attended as many sporting events as he could. He was an avid USAF basketball, football, and hockey fan, and he went to as many Rockies, Avalanche, Nuggets, and Sky Sox games as he could.Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Mary (Chiprich) Kozak; and his stepdaughter, Carolyn Rosal.He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; son, Michael (Wendy) Kozak; daughter, Stephany (David) Rodvold; son, Patrick (Jenny) Kozak; daughter, Susan Kozak; stepson, Ken (Lori) Cross; stepson-in-law, George (Carolyn, dec'd) Rosal; grandchildren John (Emily) Rodvold, Nick Kozak, Rowan Kozak, Logan Kozak and Catlyn Kozak; step-grandchildren, Primo (Kellie) Rosal, Georgie (Leslie) Rosal, Walter Cross, Ken Cross Jr., Skyler Cross and Jake Cross; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.Graveside Service with Full U.S. Air Force Honors, 9:00AM, Friday, August 23, 2019, Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925.Remembrance Gathering, 6:00PM-8:00PM, Friday, August 23, 2019, The Springs Funeral Services-North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923.Memorial contributions in Jerry's memory may be made to the American Heart Association or Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Events Graveside Friday, August 23, 2019 9:00AM Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925 Phone: 202-632-8035 Remembrance Gathering Friday, August 23, 2019 6:00PM - 8:00PM The Springs Funeral Services - North 6575 Oakwood Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-207-8611