Aloysius (Al) Joseph Kominak, 87, a resident of Twisp, and longtime resident of Ohio, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak from complications due to pneumonia.
He was born on April 27, 1926 in Campbell, Ohio, the son of Andrew and Anna Kominak, who emigrated from Austria-Hungary, now Slovakia.
Al was raised in Campbell. He graduated from Campbell Memorial High School with the class of 1944.
Al was proud to be a first-generation U.S. citizen. He served his country in the Pacific Theater during World War II. On his honorable discharge he returned to Campbell, Ohio, where he began a career in the U.S. Postal Service. While working as a letter carrier he also maintained a profession as a bricklayer. He retired in 1981.
On July 25, 1953, Al was united in marriage to Dorothy Kasper at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Campbell, and for 50 years they made their home together in the Youngstown area where they raised their seven children.
Al was a faithful member of the Catholic Church. He served as an altar boy at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Campbell throughout his childhood. In his younger years, he enjoyed dancing. He belonged to a bowling league, an investment club and was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers Union, Branch 385.
He was an avid golfer, and a good one too. He was an amazing golf coach. He could watch your swing, see what needed correction and show you how to fix it. As age made golfing difficult, Al chose to remain active outdoors and developed a new passion: fishing. He loved a day out on the lake and could fillet fish with the best of them.
In his last years Al took pride in skillfully filleting fish for his kids and grandkids. He loved to participate in projects and activities with his family. He really enjoyed watching his grandkids in any sporting event, but especially baseball, his favorite sport. He helped with harvesting. You’d often see him shelling the kids’ seeds and nuts or drying fruit. He helped with canning. He made fresh, mouth-watering applesauce and also came to enjoy baking goodies for the family.
He operated a wood-splitting machine and produced over 22 cords of firewood in his last year! He was especially proud of cleaning rusty tools, allowing them to work again. He kept busy spending time with his grandkids, helping with homework and meaningfully contributed to his family up until the time of his passing.
Al will be fondly remembered for saying, “Hey, two heads are better than one,” and, “Think. Think. Think.”
Al is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Kominak; daughter Andrea Kominak; five sons and daughters-in-law, Allen and Helen Kominak, Glen and Anna Kominak, Gary and Leah Kominak, Greg and Joanne Kominak, Gerald and Candi Kominak; daughter and son-in-law, Audrey and Mark Warden; 16 grandchildren, Matt and Chris, Mark and Bryan, Taylor, Hunter and Cody, Syann, Clancy, David and Grace-ann, and Andrew, Nina, Peter, Maria and Natalia; one great-grandchild, Kennedy; his older sister, Mary Kominak; sister-in-law, Irene Kominak; brother and sister-in-law, Pete and MaryLou Kasper; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Anna Kominak; baby sister, Anna, teenage sister, Margaret, younger sister Eleanor Tremblay, older sister Helen Kominak, younger brother, Joseph Kominak, brother-in-law, Bill Tremblay and nephew, Mark Kominak.
A funeral was held on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at the St. Genevieve Parish in Twisp.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the St. Genevieve Parish, P.O. Box 6, Twisp, WA 98856.
