Robert Thomas Kozieja, 83, of Florissant, MO, formerly of Donnellson, died at 11:05 p.m. Friday, June 15, 2018, at his home.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the funeral ceremony at noon on Monday, June 18, at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Panama. Rev. Daniel Willenborg will officiate the funeral ceremony. Interment will follow at Donnellson Cemetery in Donnellson.
Mr. Kozieja was born on Sept. 14, 1934, in St. Louis, MO, the son of Anton and Laura (Lewis) Kozieja. He married Maria Fernandez on Dec. 20, 1975, at Our Lady of Presentation Catholic Church in St. Louis and she survives.
A longtime warehouser in St. Louis, Mr. Kozieja also worked at Abeck's Steel, where he would eventually retire, and was a member of Teamster's Local 688. He was also a past member of the Overland Moose Lodge #1948 and was an expert gardener, taking great pride in his completely organic vegetable garden. He would make his own compost for the garden and share the fruits of his labor with everyone.
Mr. Kozieja also enjoyed whittling, woodworking, watching professional wrestling, cooking, baking, playing the banjo and all things mysterious.
In addition to his wife, he is also survived by sons, Bob (wife Carolyn) Kozieja of St. Ann, MO, Anton (wife Gina) Kozieja of Maryland Heights, MO, and Erik (wife Lisa) Kozieja of Hazelwood, MO; grandchildren, Tammy (husband Tom) Lykam, Tony (wife Michelle) Kozieja, Laura (husband Joe) Kozieja Peterson and Ashley, Abbigail, Claudia, Desmond, Ava and Vivian Kozieja.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Alice Simpson; and cousin, LeRoy Doyle.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.
