Brother James Edward Kozak, C.S.C.

BROTHER JAMES EDWARD KOZAK, C.S.C.

May 19, 1943 – January 20, 2026

Notre Dame, IN. Brother James Edward Kozak, C.S.C., 83, died on January 20 at Holy Cross College. His death was unexpected.

Brother James was born in Grand Rapids, MI to Edward and Mary Kozak the oldest of four children. He attended St. Thomas the Apostle Grade School graduating in 1956 and Catholic Central High School graduating in 1960. He entered the juniorate for the Brother of Holy Cross two weeks after his high school graduation, taking his first vows as a Holy Cross Brother at St. Joseph Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, IN in August of 1961. In 1964, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in English. Also making his final vows in 1964, he added the fourth vow to go anywhere in the world the superior general would need him. After his time at Notre Dame, he earned a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University in Chicago, IL and pursued courses in missiology and guidance and counseling at the University of Dayton, Ohio and DePaul University, Chicago.

In 1965, he taught at Sacred Heart Military Academy in Watertown, WI for one semester. He was then sent to St. Patrick High School in Monrovia, Liberia where he taught from 1965-1970. In 1970, he became a faculty member at St. Theresa Seminary in Amisano, Ghana, and in 1971, he was assigned to St. John’s School in Sekondi, Ghana where he worked through 1977. He returned to the United States in 1978, and for one year, was a youth minister at St. Martin’s Parish in Chicago, IL. He returned to Ghana in 1979 to serve as diocesan youth chaplain in Sunyani. From 1980-1985, he was appointed as director of formation, including novice master, for the District (now Province) of West Africa, and also served for a second time at St. John’s School in Sekondi. From 1985-1990, he was appointed the executive director of the diocesan heath committee in Sunyani, Ghana. He then returned to the United States on sabbatical, studying at Loyola University, Chicago, IL. In 1993-1994, he served as a pastoral associate at St. Felicitas Church in Chicago. He then worked for one year as a program associate for Life Directions, Inc. In 1995, he moved to Clinton, MI and served for the next ten years at Boysville of Michigan. His final teaching assignment was at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, OH where he worked until 2012. From 2012 until his death, he resided at Columba Hall at the University of Notre Dame while working as a tutor, a chaplain for the soccer teams and as an assistant rector at Pulte Hall, Holy Cross College.

Brother James is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sister Maureen (Szwalek, husband Stanley) and brothers Michael (wife Nancy) and Daniel.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026 at St. Joseph Chapel, Holy Cross College from 9:00-10:00 am on the grounds of Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame. The Mass of Resurrection will then follow with interment afterward in St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Holy Cross Village. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions in support of the Ghana missions of the Brothers of Holy Cross can be made to the Midwest Province, P.O. Box 460, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0460. The live stream link of the funeral is https://bit.ly/4bfmHvy

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