Mr. John Peter Kosolowski, age 86, resident of Peterborough passed away peacefully on September 12, 2016 with his family by his side.
John was born on May 18th, 1930 in Port Arthur Ontario where he lived until moving to Marathon to start his career as a master welder and start his family with his beloved wife Marilyn (nee Baker). In retirement John repurposed his welding skills to become an accomplished craftsman in stained glass.
John was active in the Thunder Bay community being a member of the Thunder Bay Conservation Club for many years raising funds through hunter safety courses and selling Christmas trees to aid in local conservation projects. John was a sports enthusiast with a penchant for trivia and meeting hockey celebrities including a chat with Dick Irvin while waiting in an airport.
John was active in various sports including baseball, soccer and football but hockey was his passion. He had a prominent junior career with the Port Arthur Bruins and was offered a contract to play in the Montreal Canadians farm system. John instead chose to stay close to home and family and took a job offer in Marathon and played several years with the Marathon Mercuries.
Golf was also a part of life and John was still hitting the ball down the middle of the fairway just a few weeks ago. John and Marilyn built their first home in Marathon and stayed for 10 years establishing many friendships that have endured the years.
Their children, John, Jim and Linda all were born in Marathon before John packed his family up and moved back to Fort William in 1965. Over the years John coached several hockey teams and was a referee. He continued playing the game as an “oldtimer” into his 70’s. He was “rookie of the year” during his inaugural seniors hockey year after moving to Peterborough.
It was 1998 when John and Marilyn moved to Peterborough to be closer to their children and grandchildren. From there they ‘went RVing’ across Canada and the United States and have since made several trips to Hawaii.
Family and friends were very important to John. Whatever corner of the world he was in, he would always reach out to say hello to old friends and relatives re-kindling new friendships over the years.
John was predeceased by his mother and father Elena and Peter Kosolowski; siblings Mary Kusznier, Bill Kosolowski, Adeline Bergeron, Annie Kosolowski, Patricia Kosolowski, Pauline Kozic and Alex Kosolowski. John will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his wife of 61 years, Marilyn; siblings Rose Kulp, Elsie Savas, Evelyn (Eugene) Dromisky, Jackie (Ken) Jennings; children John (Carolyn Seitz), Jim (Shelley Baigent) and Linda (Marc) Jarvis; grandchildren Adam Kosolowski, Mark Kosolowski, Scott Averin, Samantha Jarvis and Rachel Jarvis; and his many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for John will be held on Friday, September 16th at 2:30 in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James. Private family inurnment will follow at Mountainview Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held after the service.
Should friends or family so desire, donations made in memory of John to a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
