Edward John Kostuch

Ed Kostuch, 78, of La Crosse passed away Sunday Sept. 2, 2012 at Lakeview Health Care Center.  He was born in Winona, MN on Jan. 28, 1934 to Frank and Frances (Pawlak) Kostuch.  He graduated from Cotter High School and then joined the U.S. Navy in 1952. Ed served in the Korea conflict aboard the USS Braine and the USS Arnold J. Isbelle  DD869 destroyers.  He was discharged in 1956 and went to Chicago to attend diesel mechanics school.  He returned to Winona where he met and married Barbara Jean Janikowski, his loving wife of over 50 years. They moved to La Crosse where he worked for Gateway Transportation for over 20 years.  Ed also worked for Marv Gordon Farms as a tractor mechanic and for Collins Sign Co. as a fleet mechanic.  After retirement he volunteered at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in La Crosse. Ed was also an active member of the Holy Trinity Men’s Club where he volunteered as an assistant and later the head football coach for the Holy Trinity Tigers.  In 1978 he led the Tigers to a championship season with a 7-0 record. He was also a Packer fan, and a great outdoorsman; hunting, fishing, camping and gardening. He was a long time member of the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post # 52.

He is survived by his three children: Bryan “Ivan” (Sue) Kostuch of Bangor; LoriAnna (Karl) Young of Tomah; Jeff Kostuch of La Crosse; 4 grandchildren; Beth, Emily and Cora of Bangor and Isaiah of Tomah and his little buddy (Jeff’s beagle) Rudy.  Ed is also survived by his brothers Norman Kostuck of Winona and Joseph Kostuch of Minneapolis.  In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by his wife Barb in 2010, his brothers Richard, John, Harold, James and his sisters Lorraine and Gertrude.

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday Sept. 8, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1333 So. 13^th St., Rev. Rick Roberts will officiate. Burial, with military honors will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass.  The family would like to thank the staffs of Lakeview Health Care Center and the Tomah V.A. for the wonderful care given to Ed.

Online condolences may be made at www.blaschkeschneider.com