Richard E. Kozitka

Richard Eugene Kozitka, 89, passed away peacefully on Sept. 22 with loved ones by his side after an 11-year battle with cancer.

Dick was first and foremost a family man. He was the perfect example of a gentleman, loving husband, father and grandfather. Anyone who knew him knew this.

Born April 30, 1934, the seventh child of Mike and Ella Kozitka in Staples, MN, a small railroad town that he boasted was the Rail Hub of the Northwest, he was a proud Minnesotan.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He attended the Army Intelligence School in Baltimore and the Army Language School in Monterey, CA, then served as an Army Counter Intelligence Special Agent in Heidelberg, Germany during the Cold War.

After the military, Dick moved to Chicago and landed his dream job in public relations at The Quaker Oats Company. It was there in the Merchandise Mart that he met his life partner, Mary Juneau, who had just graduated from Northwestern University and joined the Quaker PR staff. They were married in 1969, living first in downtown Chicago and later in Evanston, where their children, Michael and Laura, were born. The family moved to Lake Forest in 1988.

During his 32 years with Quaker he held various public relations and communications positions and served as Corporate Vice President for Administration before retiring in 1995. He was a member of the University Club of Chicago, the National Association of Real Estate Executives and the International Development Research Council. Although he didn't play golf, he joined Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, IL for Mary, who was an avid golfer.

After retirement, Dick and Mary traveled extensively to all 50 states and all corners of the world, fulfilling a lifetime dream of his that started way back in early geography classes. One of his favorite travel experiences was being in Berlin to celebrate with Berliners when the wall came down.

The Kozitkas became residents of Florida in 1997, spending winters in Naples, where they were members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, La Playa Beach Club and The Club at the Strand.

He was predeceased by his parents and all six siblings. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Mary, son Michael of Chicago, daughter Laura Hensley (Jon) also of Chicago, and his cherished granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Hensley.

A private service will be held with internment at Lake Forest Cemetery.