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As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:
Francis “Ozzie” Koski, 74, a resident of the Houghton Canal passed away with his family by his side on Friday, April 14, 2023, at his home following a battle with Glioblastoma (brain cancer).
He was born on February 18, 1949, in Ironwood, MI, a son of the late Frank and June (Fratick) Koski. Ozzie was raised in Ironwood and Gwinn as his father worked different construction jobs before the family moved to Houghton then Chassell. He attended the Houghton Schools but left before graduating to join the United States Marines during the Viet Nam War. Ozzie was proud to have gone back to school to receive his GED after returning home from his service in the Marine Corps and Marine Reserves. He also attended the Auto Tech School at Northern Michigan University.
Mr. Koski was a proud veteran, having served as a Sniper and Demolitions expert with the United States Marines in Viet Nam.
Following his service with the Marine Corps and Marine Reserves, Ozzie returned home and joined the Army National Guard, serving for 21 years before retiring. He had worked as a cook, custodian and bus driver for the Stanton Township Schools. He then had worked as a security guard and was a courier. Mr. Koski also owned and operated Houghton Radio & Marine, selling and installing Marine radios and two-way communication systems for fire departments and schools. He had also owned his own bait shop and sold fuel to boaters on the Portage Canal for many years from his home.
On July 12, 1980, he was united in marriage to the former Barbara Yeakel. The couple resided on the Houghton Canal where they raised their daughter Missy.
Ozzie loved spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, camping and taking trips to Isle Royale on his 17’ Starcraft “JFK”. He was an active scuba diver in the area and assisted with many search and rescues. Spending time at the hunting camp in Misery Bay, fishing with his daughter and son-in-law and taking his Slingshot for rides were his favorite pastimes. Ozzie was a founding member of the former Range Motorcycle Club (now the Range Snowmobile Club). Mr. Koski was a member of the Stanton Twp Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years, a member of the Keweenaw Detachment Marine Corps League, Superior Search and Rescue, and enjoyed helping with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly. Ozzie was also very proud to be able to help many veterans with the problems they had after returning from combat.
Preceding him in death were: his wife Barbara, his parents, his maternal grandparents: Oscar and Myrtle Fratick, and his paternal grandparents: Frank Evalt and Esther Koski.
Surviving are:
His daughter: Melissa (Alan) Juntunen of Alston
His son: Jared (Bobby Jo) Hoffenbecker of Mosinee, WI
His grandchildren: Allie (Daniel) Curtis, Julie Juntunen, Matthew Juntunen, Brenden (Kalia Xiong) Hoffenbecker, Jade Hoffenbecker.
His great-granddaughter: Freya Curtis
His brother: Clark (Joyce) Koski of Chassell
His sister: Lori (Mike) Markham of the Hancock Canal
His sisters-in-law: Amy (Don) Slagle of Goodrich, MI
Beth Berenter of Ann Arbor, MI
Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins
His furry companions Blitz and Kisses
Military Honors for Ozzie will be held at a later date in the Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Copper Country Humane Society in memory of Ozzie Koski.
Ozzie’s family would like to thank Portage Home Hospice, Copper Country Chiropractic and Tranquility Massage for their great care of Ozzie.
To view Ozzie’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
