Paul Koznick

1926 - 2020

Paul Koznick, beloved husband of the late Margaret Koznick of sixty four years, passed away in Lethbridge on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the age of 94 years.

As a result of the restrictions regarding COVID-19, and the government’s recommendations, a private visitation was held at Southland Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Burial followed at the Taber Memorial Garden.

He is survived by his daughter Irene (Wayne) Speer of Taber, son David (Elaine) Williams of Calgary and son-in-law Garry Plomp of Lethbridge; grandchildren Christine (Alan) Van Bavel, Alan Speer, Gordon (Jill) Speer, Troy (Kathy) Williams, Latrisha Williams (Randy), Kimberly (Chris) Pregernig and Brandon Plomp; great grandchildren Victoria Van Bavel, Nicholas Van Bavel, Reagan Speer, MacKenzie Speer, Juliet Williams, Tristan Williams, Isabelle Pregernig, Jackson Pregernig as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents George and Katie Koznick; siblings; Pete, Alex, Mike (Ruth), Bill (Audrey) Koznick and sister Mary (Carl) Wattum; daughter Debra Plomp and grandson Ron Williams.

Paul was born January 5, 1926 in Coalhurst. He did his schooling in Taber and worked for the school division for thirty six years. Paul spent three years in the army Loyal Edmonton Regiment. He served in Britain and Holland during World War II, where they liberated Holland. He was proud of being in the army.

Paul met Margaret Williams a widow with two children at a dart tournament. They later married February 1, 1954 in Taber where they resided until their passing. They had one daughter together, Debra Melanie Plomp, who predeceased them.

Paul was proud, he made it to the age of ninety four years, although the last few years, were somewhat challenging.

He loved to garden, grow vegetables and was always relandscaping his yard. They did receive an award for best backyard one year. They loved to camp and travelled into Penticton, British Columbia, a favourite holiday with their granddaughter Christine and into the states, Great Falls, Montana, their honeymoon spot and Hawaii where they loved the islands and the beaches where they travelled three times.

Paul loved to sing and play his guitar every day. Johnny Cash was a favourite and had many other country favourites. He loved sports. Fishing, golf, fastball, hockey and hunting. It was nice when he and Margaret lived on the golf course to play golf and watch the sports on television avidly. Paul and Margaret used to square dance, play cards and darts with friends. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Taber. He loved tinkering and could always bring life back to anything needing to be repaired. Paul was a hard worker, a painter for the school division in Taber, Hays, Grassy Lake and the Vauxhall communities. He was always painting their houses inside and out. He could eyeball colors even at the age of eighty when he painted the inside of Irene’s house.

He had a lot of good friends, the Malinsky‘s, Fallon’s, Layton’s and Jensen‘s.

Paul had a real zest for living and he had seen sorrow and tragedy in his lifetime. Debbie’s passing, Margaret’s passing and his brother Pete, who drowned at twenty one when Paul was only twelve. His brother Pete paid for his first guitar lessons. He loved his family very much.

One important bit of information and humour, Paul loved buying cars and cleaning them out as he did with trailers and campers. He enjoyed cleaning them up and renovating them more than he did using them.

When they moved from their house and into their condo as they were packing up the sheets, Paul remarked, “Why do you buy so many sheets”? Margaret replied, “Why do you buy so many cars”? In the latter part of Paul’s life, dialysis was his life and he hung on with great strength. His family supported him. He loved all the grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved to see them and give them hugs or a kiss.

“May you rest in peace dad and grandpa. May you always have known how much you were loved and respected. We love you always, much love from Irene, David, Garry, grandchildren and family”.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Paul’s name may be made directly to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 20, 5205 - 48 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1S8 or to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Suite 400, 740 - 4 Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 0N9 www.kidney.ca.