Obituary of Matthew Waide Kozak

Matthew Waide Kozak, 86, of Mt. Pleasant died Sunday October 12, 2025 at Independence Health Health Westmoreland Hospital.  Mr. Kozak was born November 17, 1938 in White, PA to the late Matthew and Gladys Wiltrout Kozak. 

Waide was a member of St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church.  He was a graduate of Connellsville High School class of 1957 and Findlay University in Ohio, where he received a bachelor’s degree in education.  Waide worked as a Science Teacher at Mt. Pleasant Area High School for over 38 years.  He served as a football coach, coached the track team, and helped start the Mt. Pleasant wrestling program.  He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and hunting mushrooms.  Waide had a passion for sports and always enjoyed helping the students that he coached. 

Waide is survived by his loving family, his wife of 59 years, Alberta Wojciak Kozak; his son, Donovan W. Kozak (Staci); his grandchildren, Hannah and Landon Kozak; his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Yanuck, Margie Wojciak, and Bonnie Kozak; and by numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, Waide was preceded in death by his siblings, Wilma Kasiewicz, Wilbert Kozak, Wilda Hoffer, and Marshall “Wayne” Kozak.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of his Blessing Service at 12:00 p.m. at Galone-Caruso Funeral Home Inc., Mt. Pleasant.  A Funeral Mass will follow at 12:30 p.m. at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in St. Pius X Parish Cemetery.  The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire staff of Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital ICU for their wonderful care of Waide.  To offer an online condolence, please visit our website at www.galone-carusofuneralhome.com