Neil Kenneth Koshak

Neil Kenneth Koshak age 88, entered eternal life on April 28, 2023 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born February 16, 1935 in Park Falls, Wisconsin, the son of Charlotte (Van Camp) and Albert Koshak. Neil grew up on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, living in the very first cabin built at “Al’s Place”, his Dad’s resort where the family lived from 1933 to 1947. An only child, he was a favorite of the guests that would come every year from the big cities to fish, and grew up engaging with people of all ages, fostering his love of socialization. His early schooling was at the Smart School, a one-room schoolhouse on Hwy F northeast of Butternut. At age twelve, the family moved to Park Falls and built a home on north Highway 13. He attended Saint Anthony’s Catholic School and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953. He served in the United States Army for three years and led a radar squad in a NIKE missile defense unit near Baltimore, MD. He attended the Platteville School of Engineering and earned a degree in Civil Engineering, and graduated from Northland College in Ashland in 1961 with a degree in Business Administration. Neil worked with his Dad at Koshak Construction Company during his high school and college summers. He always felt so fortunate to have worked alongside his Dad for many years in the road-building career he was very proud of. He earned two WI Dept of Transportation awards for “Outstanding Highway Construction for Excellence in Grading” on State Hwy 70 in Washburn County and State Hwy 182 (Springstead) in Iron County. He succeeded his Dad as president of the company in 1986. Neil married Marilyn Weber on June 18, 1960 and they built a loving home in Eisenstein where they raised their seven children. His interest in gunsmithing led to him starting Timber Gun Sales. He was an expert in sighting in rifles. Hunting season was always busy, and the business provided a good balance in the winter months against the long days on the road in the summer. Neil was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Matthew. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, daughters Jean (Jerry) Schieffer, Karol (Tom) Hoerth, Nola (Bill) Luhtala, and Sara (Paul) Brendalen; sons Mark (Jean) and Michael. He is further survived by eleven grandchildren and three step-grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and five step-great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Park Falls on Saturday, May 6 at 11:00 AM. Fr. Shaji Pazhukkathara will officiate, assisted by Deacon Chet Ball. Visitation will be at the Birch Street Funeral Service Chapel in Park Falls on Friday evening, May 5, from 5:00-7:30 PM and on Saturday at the church from 10:00am until the hour of the service. Burial will follow at Nola Cemetery with military honors under the auspices of the Park Falls American Legion Post 182. The family would like to thank Marshfield Medical Center Home Health and Hospice for all their care and support for Neil in his last month. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org and The Glioblastoma Foundation https://glioblastomafoundation.org/ Birch Street Funeral Service is assisting the family. www.birchstreetfuneralservice.com

Neil Kenneth Koshak

February 16, 1935 - April 28, 2023