DeWayne Kozak, 77, of Le Mars, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 31, 2014 at his home in Le Mars. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at the Le Mars Bible Church. Pastor Fred Gums will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2014 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present to greet friends from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral service on Tuesday.

DeWayne Laddie Kozak was born on August 11, 1937 in Wagner, South Dakota to Laddie and Rose (Melichar) Kozak. He graduated from Tabor High School in 1955. DeWayne furthered his education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion where he majored in music. During this time he served in the South Dakota National Guard. DeWayne purchased a Phillips 66 service station in Vermillion and operated it for several years. Along with the station he formed a music group called DeWayne Kozak and his Orchestra. The orchestra played in several places around the area and appeared often with Lawrence Welk.

On April 4 1964, DeWayne and Nyla Oorlog were united in marriage at Olivet, South Dakota. One year later they moved to Yankton, South Dakota and DeWayne worked at Montgomery Ward. In 1969, the family moved to Le Mars. DeWayne first operated a Jewel T sales route. He later took a position with CM Corporation and developed nursing homes in the area. When CM closed he took a position with Dynamic Homes selling modular housing and Chemical Sanitizing Services (CSS) as a sales rep. His last occupation prior to retirement was developing a marketing plan for Lally’s Restaurant to promote the sale of their BBQ sauce and salad dressings.

DeWayne was a longtime member of the Le Mars Bible Church. He enjoyed fishing with his boys and watching Animal Planet. He was a conversationalist and loved to visit with anyone he met.

He will be lovingly remembered by three sons, Darrin and Kathy of Glidden, Iowa, Mike of Akron, Iowa and Chris and Dena of Brentwood, Tennessee; grandchildren, Erica, Alison and Katelynn and her fiancé Nathan Johnston, Christopher and Joslyn Pappadackis and Stephanie Pappadackis; a great-grandson, Levi; a sister and her husband, Jude and Gene Petersen of Buena Vista, CO; a brother and his wife, Laddie and Zoe Kozak of Estherville, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Nyla on August 12, 2014; and an infant sister, Delores.