Obituary for Aloysius A. Kukla
Aloysius A. Kukla, age 95 of Manistee, was called home by his Lord and Savior on Sunday January 8, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.
Born Aloysius Anthony Kukla in Manistee on May 31, 1927, the son of the late Casmir and Rose (Chycinski) Kukla. Aloysius attended Lincoln School, St. Joseph School, and Manistee High School. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Drafted in 1945, Aloysius joined the Army during World War II. He was assigned to the European Theater of War designated area of fighting. He was in charge of the airport that received war supplies. Aloysius was also trained as a sharpshooter. He served in Belgium and in France. He was honorably discharged in 1947.
Aloysius married the love of his life, Margret K. Shea, on August 13, 1955, in Manistee. They were married for 61 years before Margret passed away on April 2, 2017.
He was employed by the Manistee Garment Factory from 1943 to 1945, the year he was drafted. After his service in WWII, he worked at Packaging Corporation of America as a laborer in Manistee. During his employment there he was also the Chief Union Steward and President of the Union. He became maintenance supervisor until his retirement in August of 1985.
Al and Margret enjoyed life to the fullest. Besides boating and camping, Al enjoyed helping his children with their projects, be it helping to construct their homes, doing carpentry work, or looking after the grandkids. He was always there to lend a helping hand to his many friends; they were always there to help each other. Al also enjoyed stock car racing and being one of the pit crew members for his daughter Margret’s and his son-in-law Randall Kocevar’s stock car. Those times were long nights and busy weekends, but it was a fun time for all involved. He had also played baseball for the Manistee Saints.
Al loved his family and was so grateful to his children for all they had done for him and was always there for them. Al had a lifetime collection of thousands of picture slides and he loved to show them anytime he got the chance to. When his daughters would bring their boyfriends home to meet Al and Margret, the introduction, more times than not, included a picture slide show at some point.
He was a natural born storyteller and he always had a good story or joke, especially when camping with friends or at family get togethers. Al was an easy-going man. He loved his Lord and had a great relationship with Him. Al was loved by many people, and it seemed like he knew everybody. Someone always had a hug for him, and he had a smile, a compliment, or a kind word at the ready for them. Aloysius will truly be missed by all whose life he touched.
Aloysius is survived by his children Allen Kukla of Glenwood Springs, CO and Debra (Dirk) Olson of Manistee; grandchildren Michael Kenny of Nevada, Jacquelyn Schoenherr of Hawaii, Susan Kocevar and Beverly Kocevar; great grandchildren Branden Gray, Erin Grey, Tyler Woods and Amara Cambric; great-great grandson Allantae Nix; sisters Blondine Goslinoski and Margie Martin; numerous nieces and nephews; and his close friends Michael and Julie Feliczyk and Tom and Sally Stefanski.
In addition to his parents, Aloysius was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Margret; loving daughters Cynthia Lynn Eble, Lee Ann Stetzel, and Margret “Peggy” Denise Kocevar; his sisters Helen (Evert) Markinen, Irene (Robert) Kuczynski, Virginia Yoder, and his partner in all things fun, his brother Joseph (Mary) Kukla; and his very special granddaughter DeeAnn Grey.
Per Aloysius wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating Aloysius’s life will be held at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee on Saturday January 21, 2023 at 12:00PM with Pastor Joe Hilyard officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until the time of service. There will be a luncheon and time of fellowship following.
The family suggests that those wishing to remember Al consider a gift in his memory to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Please visit Al’s personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a photo or story. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.
Born Aloysius Anthony Kukla in Manistee on May 31, 1927, the son of the late Casmir and Rose (Chycinski) Kukla. Aloysius attended Lincoln School, St. Joseph School, and Manistee High School. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Drafted in 1945, Aloysius joined the Army during World War II. He was assigned to the European Theater of War designated area of fighting. He was in charge of the airport that received war supplies. Aloysius was also trained as a sharpshooter. He served in Belgium and in France. He was honorably discharged in 1947.
Aloysius married the love of his life, Margret K. Shea, on August 13, 1955, in Manistee. They were married for 61 years before Margret passed away on April 2, 2017.
He was employed by the Manistee Garment Factory from 1943 to 1945, the year he was drafted. After his service in WWII, he worked at Packaging Corporation of America as a laborer in Manistee. During his employment there he was also the Chief Union Steward and President of the Union. He became maintenance supervisor until his retirement in August of 1985.
Al and Margret enjoyed life to the fullest. Besides boating and camping, Al enjoyed helping his children with their projects, be it helping to construct their homes, doing carpentry work, or looking after the grandkids. He was always there to lend a helping hand to his many friends; they were always there to help each other. Al also enjoyed stock car racing and being one of the pit crew members for his daughter Margret’s and his son-in-law Randall Kocevar’s stock car. Those times were long nights and busy weekends, but it was a fun time for all involved. He had also played baseball for the Manistee Saints.
Al loved his family and was so grateful to his children for all they had done for him and was always there for them. Al had a lifetime collection of thousands of picture slides and he loved to show them anytime he got the chance to. When his daughters would bring their boyfriends home to meet Al and Margret, the introduction, more times than not, included a picture slide show at some point.
He was a natural born storyteller and he always had a good story or joke, especially when camping with friends or at family get togethers. Al was an easy-going man. He loved his Lord and had a great relationship with Him. Al was loved by many people, and it seemed like he knew everybody. Someone always had a hug for him, and he had a smile, a compliment, or a kind word at the ready for them. Aloysius will truly be missed by all whose life he touched.
Aloysius is survived by his children Allen Kukla of Glenwood Springs, CO and Debra (Dirk) Olson of Manistee; grandchildren Michael Kenny of Nevada, Jacquelyn Schoenherr of Hawaii, Susan Kocevar and Beverly Kocevar; great grandchildren Branden Gray, Erin Grey, Tyler Woods and Amara Cambric; great-great grandson Allantae Nix; sisters Blondine Goslinoski and Margie Martin; numerous nieces and nephews; and his close friends Michael and Julie Feliczyk and Tom and Sally Stefanski.
In addition to his parents, Aloysius was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Margret; loving daughters Cynthia Lynn Eble, Lee Ann Stetzel, and Margret “Peggy” Denise Kocevar; his sisters Helen (Evert) Markinen, Irene (Robert) Kuczynski, Virginia Yoder, and his partner in all things fun, his brother Joseph (Mary) Kukla; and his very special granddaughter DeeAnn Grey.
Per Aloysius wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating Aloysius’s life will be held at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee on Saturday January 21, 2023 at 12:00PM with Pastor Joe Hilyard officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until the time of service. There will be a luncheon and time of fellowship following.
The family suggests that those wishing to remember Al consider a gift in his memory to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Please visit Al’s personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a photo or story. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.