COZAC, Andri
Dad passed away at Extendicare Kirkland Lake with loved ones by his side on Tuesday September 25 2018 at the age of 94. Andy as everyone called him was born in Avonlea Saskatchewan. The Cozac family moved to Charlton when he was 14 after the great depression. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years Alma Lacharity Cozac. He is survived by his 5 children Eugene of New Liskeard, Ruth Searle (Ron)of Keswick ON, Donna Cozac Kirkland Lake,Eleanor (Butch) DeVries (Bryan)of Charlton, Ivan Cozac of North Bay.He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, numerous greatgrandchildren & 1 great great grandaughter. Andy is also survived by 4 brothers & 4 sisters. Andy was a World War 2 veteran, a charter member of the Englehart Kinsmen Club, member of the Anglican Church & a very strong supporter of the NDP. Life member of the Charlton Legion also. A great sense of humor like most of the family, always telling jokes. He worked for Ontario Northland for 35 years first as a fireman, including firing the 701, then became an engineman till his retirement. Here is a military story written by his grandson Bill Peters. When WW2 broke out, Andy went to enrol in the Canadian Army in order to contribute to the war effort. Not once, but twice his mother came and took him back home to work on the farm, as he had fibbed about his age in order to serve. Once he was able to serve, he completed training in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps in Camp Borden and had been in Thunder Bay completing training there as well. Eventually making his way to England with the army there, he was employed as a motorcycle dispatch rider. A little known fact that he relayed to his grandson Bill later in life, is that he delivered the press release for the D Day invasion from the Allied Headquarters in England to the press in London. After crossing the channel into Northwest Europe, he became a member of a unit called the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment – also known as the Kangaroos. This unit was formed on 28 Aug 44 and disbanded on 20 Jun 45 and their primary task was to shuttle the infantry units through the enemy lines during operations in armoured personnel carriers. The unit amassed a total of 13 battle honours and was the only Canadian unit to have been stood up and disbanded outside of Canada. When the war was declared over, he was in Berlin. There, they celebrated in style, with a victory party that went on for 3 days! After his return to Canada and release from the army, he kept his military affiliation alive through his involvement with the Royal Canadian Legion as a WW2 Veteran. There is no visitation or service at this time. The Cozac Family would like to thank the Nurses and the Staff of the Extendicare Kirkland Lake for their wonderful care.
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