Andrew James Kordziel

Andrew J. Kordziel Born in Witherbee, New York on November 12th, 1925 Departed on May 18, 2013 and resided in Golden, CO Andrew J. Kordziel of Golden Colorado passed away on May 18, 2013 at the age of 87. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife Gertrude Kordziel that he had married in 1954. He is survived by 5 children: Diane Harvey, Walter Kordziel (Rose Marie Bowden), Wanda Steadman (Kirk), Mark Kordziel (Stacy) and Joseph Kordziel (Jamie). Also survived by 8 grandchildren: Amy Hood (Kenny), Mandy Lacey (Josh), Sarah Harvey, Alissa Harvey, Marcus Kordziel, Tyler Kordziel, Steven Kordziel and Scott Kordziel; 5 great grandchildren: Jacob Hood, Haley Hood, Cadin Hood, Anthony Lacey and Emmalynn Lacey; brother Anthony Kordziel. He was born to Mary and Peter Kordziel in Witherbee N.Y., a small mining town in upstate New York near Lake Placid. He was the 7th of 10 children, 8 boys and 2 girls of which he was the only boy with blue eyes. He graduated from high school in June 1943 with World War II in full swing and he then tested into the Navy Pilot program, however he was worried it would take too long before he†™d see action and then enlisted as a Electrician mate 2nd class, joining 1 of sister, 1 brother-in-law and 4 of his brothers in Military Service during WWII. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. The Ticonderoga set sail to the South Pacific arriving and joining Admiral Halsey†™s Task Force mid summer of 1944 and where they participated in the †œBattle for the Philippines†� that fall which was the †œLargest Naval Battle in World History†�. Having many near misses from Kamikaze†™s. In early January of 1945 the Task Force was stationed offshore Indochina where they finally ran out of luck and suffered severe losses taking several Kamikazes hits. They then headed back to Pearl Harbor for repairs. After the repairs were finished they rejoined the action off Okinawa and finally into Tokyo Bay of Sept 1945. The Ticonderoga was stationed near the USS Missouri as General McArthur accepted the Surrender of Imperial Japan. His participation in WWII was one of his proudest portions of his life, he was always a Patriotic American throughout his life. After the war he went back to New York and enrolled in the community college to begin his education. Each school only had a limited number of spots available under the GI Bill so in order to make use of it a hometown buddy was headed to Denver University and suggested he apply there. He was accepted at DU and graduated with a Civil Engineering degree. After graduation he went to work for the US Geological Survey surveying to create topographic maps . Through two classmates at DU he met his wife Gert, the two were married in 1954. During the next dozen years they were moved frequently by the USGS from State to State and even a year in Puerto Rico. They had 5 children each one born in a different state, NM, TX, CO, VA and UT. In 1968 he took a position back in Denver switching over to the Forest Service continuing to be an expert in Topographic Mapping. He remained in Denver through the remainder of his career retiring in 1985. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, gardening and working on cars. He was heavily involved in youth sports coaching girls softball, serving as the League President for several years for both football and baseball as well as assisting with coaching. During that time he organized a committee to help develop fields in the neighboring parks. He helped organize a fund raiser to buy the sod and solicited volunteer labor to place the sod at Applewood Park where they are still playing games today, some 40 years later. He was also a man of faith. As a youth he was an Alter Boy for over 12 years. As a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church he volunteered as an usher and was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 60 years. He started one of their biggest fundraisers through a Sunday Pancake Breakfast that they†™ve carried on for over 30 years. During WWII he began giving blood and seeing the importance it had in saving lives, he continued and received an award for having donated blood over 200 times. He remained active in the USS Ticonderoga†™s Alumni Association. He attended many reunions throughout the US, where he was able to renew many old acquaintances and make many more new friends at each reunion. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Before his wife Gert passed in August of 2012 they celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. Viewing & Rosery: Viewing 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wed. Rosary 7:00 - 7:30 PM Wed Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church 1985 Miller St, Lakewood, CO 80215 Service: 10:00 AM Thursday, with lunch to follow at the Parish Center Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church 1985 Miller St., Lakewood, CO 80215 Interment: 2:00 PM J. S. Parker Cemetery 10375 South Parker Road, Parker, Colorado 80134 In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association Inc. or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Colorado-Wyoming Chapter.