Frank Daniel "Dan" Kozak

Dan Kozak, 83, of Midland, Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico, died on Thursday, November 27, 2008 in the Mabee Healthcare Center at Manor Park in Midland.

A memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, December 6, 2008, at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Midland. Father James Bridges, pastor of St. Stephen's, will officiate.

Dan Kozak was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, March 10, 1925, the son of Beatrice Swanda Kozak and Frank Kozak. He was educated in the Oklahoma City school system, and upon graduation from Classen High School in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 and proudly served during World War II. He received his infantry training at Ft. Riley, Kansas; followed by the Parachute Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Georgia; and was immediately assigned to the 551st Parachute Battalion. He embarked for the European War Theater in early 1944, participating in military action in Sicily, Italy and Southern France. He also fought bravely in the Battle of the Bulge in Northern France and Belgium and was finally wounded near Prum, Germany in early January, 1945. He was listed "Missing in Action," and air evacuated to Bristol, England for hospitalization. After recovery, he was rotated back to France and upon returning home, was honorably discharged at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas on January 5, 1946.

Dan served his country with great honor and distinction as a paratrooper, and among his awards, medals and decorations were the following: the Bronze Star for valiant heroism in the Battle of the Bulge; the Purple Heart Award-Battle of the Bulge; Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon for Heroic Bravery-Battle of the Bulge; Certificate of Appreciation for extraordinary heroism as a member of the 551st Parachute Battalion; European-African Middle Eastern Campaign-Medal; Army of Occupation World War II Medal-Belgium and Germany; Victory World War II Medal; as well as other citations for heroism in the European Theatre during World War II.

Dan attended the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, receiving his Bachelor's of Science in 1950 and Master's of Science in 1951, both degrees in Petroleum Geology. On June 26, 1948, he married Marjorie Ellen Quinn, his French instructor at O.U. They had a daughter, Danette S. Kozak, Santa Fe, N.M. and a son Dr. Jeffrey A. Kozak, Houston, TX.

Upon entering the professional world, Dan joined the Pure Oil Company in 1951, working in various exploration offices in the central and eastern portions of the United States. In 1975 he joined the John L. Cox firm and worked the Midland Basin of West Texas. Post Cox he was employed with the Pogo Producing Co. in Midland and retired in 1986 after thirty-five years of active oil exploration.

Dan's professional affiliations include the American Association of Petroleum Geologists; Ardmore Geological Society; the Ohio Geological Society; the Oklahoma City Geological Society; the Tulsa Geological Society; the Panhandle Geological Society, Amarillo, Texas; the Pittsburgh Geological Society; the New Mexico Geological Society, Santa Fe, N.M.; and the West Texas Geological Society, Midland. He was also a registered California geologist.

Additional professional activities included holding office within the Ardmore, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Ohio and West Texas Geological Societies, plus chairing various field trips and committees. Dan led numerous geological field trips to his favorite Texas spot, Big Bend National Park, including trips for the West Texas Geological Society, The Desk and Derrick Club and annual trips for Trinity School's ninth grade science classes.

Dan was a lifetime member of the Catholic Church and was currently a parishioner at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Midland. He was also a member of Cristo Rey Catholic Church of Santa Fe.

Dan's favorite destinations were the Island of Kauai, Hawaii, where his daughter lived; the entire country of France; and magical Santa Fe tucked in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, where he loved hiking, camping and downhill skiing.

In 1994, Dan and Marjorie found their dream retirement home in Santa Fe, N.M. and the couple divided their time between Midland and Santa Fe the next fifteen years. Dan's love for the great outdoors flourished in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Dan became an outstanding president of the Las Vistas of Santa Fe Homeowners Association for seven consecutive years. The Kozak casita became a haven for family and friends and Dan and Marjorie chose Santa Fe for the glorious celebration of their 50th anniversary June 26, 1998 at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Dan is survived by the love of his life, his wife of sixty years, Marjorie Quinn Kozak, Midland and Santa Fe, N.M.; his daughter, Danette S. Kozak Santa Fe, N.M.; his son, Dr. Jeffrey A. Kozak and his wife, Vickie D. Kozak, Houston; Ashley E. Kozak, his granddaughter, Houston; his twin grandsons Daniel F. Kozak and Travis M. Kozak, Houston; and his brother-in-law, Wendell F. Quinn, Santa Fe, N.M. and Capistrano Beach, CA. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Dan valiantly fought his Parkinson's Plus; a rapidly fatal form of Parkinson's, causing dementia and other disorders. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the medical research of these diseases: National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136; or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, 20 Exchange Place, Suite 3200, New York, NY 10005, or the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ellis Funeral Home, Midland.