Dr. John Kozura III

1942 - 2022

Dr. John Kozura III

Dr. John Kozura III, 79, of Denton, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, February 13, 2022.

Affectionately known as 'Doc', Dr. Kozura was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in the mountainous strip coal region, on December 15, 1942.

Doc grew up in Minersville, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Minersville Area High School in 1960. He attended Moravian College (now Moravian University), where he met his future wife Gerrie Zilko, graduating in 1965. He began his medical career in Renovo, Pennsylvania with his lifelong friend to be, Charles Robert Olaf, for four years, where he practiced family medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and emergency medicine.

In January of 1974, Doc moved his family to Denton, Texas, where he began his practice at the Denton Osteopathic Hospital & Clinic with Dr. Robert Nobles and continued providing family medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and emergency medicine until the hospital was sold in 1985. Doc then opened his own clinic, Denton Family Practice Clinic, on Scripture Street in Denton. He moved locations to Bonnie Brae Street in 1995 where continued his family medical practice until retirement in 2016. His patients' love for him was only outweighed by his love for them.

Dr. Kozura was, at the time of his retirement, believed to be the longest practicing physician in Denton at 42 years, and was heavily involved in the community, civic organizations, charities, and youth organizations. Doc was a sportsman and enjoyed hunting and being outdoors from the time of his childhood. He also was passionate about football and a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan.

Dr. Kozura was a world renowned cockfighter. His entry handle of PEN-TEX is known and respected throughout the international gamecock community. Doc fought his fowl internationally often with great success including in Guam and the Phillipines. The family's muff and toppy breeds are prevalent throughout the gamefowl world.

Doc is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gerrie, his children, Keith and Kristine, and his grandchildren, Brittany and Alexandra, and, by affinity, Richard Kozura.

Doc is predeceased by his parents, John Kozura Jr. and Anna Sapp, his brother and sister, Clarence and Marie Kozura, and his son, John Kozura IV.

A viewing will be held at Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas, on Sunday, February 20, 2022, from 3:00pm - 5:00pm and a service will be held on Monday, February 21, 2022, at 11:00am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denton, Texas, followed by interment at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton, Texas.