WEBSTER - Edward T. Kosakoski, 83, died Friday, July 22, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family after a seven year struggle with Lewy Body dementia.
He leaves his wife of 30 years, Ingrid (Mindrebo) Kosakoski; his son, Edward T. “Eddie” Kosakoski, Jr.; a sister, Evelyn Berthiaume and her husband Dennis, all of Webster; two sisters-in-law, Theresa Kosakoski of Webster and Gudrun Stevenson and her husband Daryl of Houghton, NY; two brothers-in-law, Eric Mindrebo and his wife Donna of Sussex, NJ, and Dr. Norman Mindrebo and his wife Peggy of Noblesville, IN; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother Francis in 2004 and by his brother Chester in 2015.
Ed was born in Webster, the son of Frank and Veronica (Nezuh) Kosakoski and grew up on Dresser and Lake Streets. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1950 and was drafted into the Army for two years in 1953. He was stationed in France as an administrative specialist. After returning home, Ed used the GI Bill to attend the University of Connecticut and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree from its School of Pharmacy. While there he served in the Connecticut Air National Guard. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves.
Ed worked as a pharmacist at Dugan’s Drug Store in Webster from 1959 to 1961. He then became the owner and manager of the Sturbridge Pharmacy in Sturbridge. He worked long hours during the ten years he owned the pharmacy and at the same time continued his reserve duty with the Air Force. He sold the business in 1971 and earned an MBA from Clark University with a major in Healthcare Administration in 1973.
Over the next 15 years Ed served as a Medical Service Corps (MSC) Officer in the Air Force Reserves. Through the years he had numerous active duty tours lasting several months at Air Force bases in Illinois, Georgia, California, Alaska and the Washington, DC area. He completed AF Artic Survival School in Alaska, Tropic Survival Training in the Panama Canal Zone and Water Survival Training in Florida. Ed’s last position in the reserves was as Commander of the 74th Aeromedical Squadron at Westover AFB in Chicopee. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel with almost 34 years of military service.
Ed’s great passion was fishing on Webster Lake and off Block Island, RI. He was an intelligent, quiet, kind, honorable and generous man. His mantra was: ”my word is my bond.” In retirement, he was aways busy working on the house, in the yard or on the boat.
Our wish as a family was to care for Ed at home as his disease progressed and have him die at home. We could not have found a finer organization to accomplish this goal than Overlook Home Hospice. During the last year of Ed’s life, they have been there every step of the way. We will be forever grateful to Kathleen Bond, CNA, and Nicole Marchand, RN for the loving and compassionate care they provided Ed and for the encouragement and support they gave us as a family. We also want to thank Christopher Hart, Joan McKeon, Judy Pasch and hospice volunteer Carolyn Latham.
The funeral will be held Monday, August 1, from the Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School Street, with a Mass at 11:00 AM in Saint Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Garden of Peace. The Webster-Dudley Veterans Council will provide the military honors at the cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 AM Monday. August 1, in the funeral home. Instead of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to Overlook Hospice, 88 Masonic Home Road, PO Box 1000, Charlton, MA 01507.