Long time Kailua and Honolulu resident, Ben Duane Kosa, 92, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2018 at St. Francis Hospice in Nuuanu. Ben was born on February 7, 1925 in Sedro Wooley, WA to parents John and Fredrica Kosa. Ben was a graduate of Lincoln High School (Seattle) and joined the Navy after his graduation in 1942. After the war, Ben went to and graduated from the University of Washington in 1949. Ben moved his young family to the Territory of Hawaii in 1955 as Chief of Planning for the Air Force stationed at Hickam. After years of travel and deployments all around the Pacific Rim, his longest being the three years in Viet Nam prior to the fall in 1975, he retired from Hickam as Chief of Civil Engineering in the 80's. Ben then went to work for the State of Hawaii as Operations manager of the Kauai Airport, then Operations manager of Honolulu International Airport in the 90's. Still not ready to retire, Ben then worked for KFC Engineering in Honolulu as a consultant until his final retirement at the age of 82. For 60 years, Ben also designed and built numerous homes in Washington, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island with his own personal architectural design firm. Ben is preceded in death by his parents, John and Frederica Kosa, his brother John Kosa, sister Vivian Zydek and grandson Bryan Kosa. He is survived by his children from his first marriage, Karen (Lindsay) Kosa, Gig Harbor, WA; Kris (Ed) Kosa-Correia, Honoka'a, HI; Jon Kosa, Whidbey Island, WA; and Rene Kosa, Cle Elum, WA. Also, his 7 grandchildren: John Scoutten (Nashville, TN); Michael Scoutten (Tacoma, WA); Sharon Brack (Huddersfield, England); Stacie Higgins (Hilo, HI), Trevor Kosa (Olympia, WA); Ricky Kosa (Philadelphia, PA) and Jesse Kosa (Tacoma, WA), along with Ben's 18 great grandchildren. Ben is also survived by his hanai children, David (Michiko) Maniaci, Honolulu, HI; Carol Maniaci, Honolulu, HI; and Sophia Maniaci Stajduhar, Mossy Rock, WA along with Ben's 5 hanai grandchildren. Ben is also survived by wife Lien. Private services for friends and family were held February 5 at Punchbowl.
Long time Kailua and Honolulu resident, Ben Duane Kosa, 92, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2018 at St. Francis Hospice in Nuuanu. Ben was born on February 7, 1925 in Sedro Wooley, WA to parents John and Fredrica Kosa. Ben was a graduate of Lincoln High School (Seattle) and joined the Navy after his graduation in 1942. After the war, Ben went to and graduated from the University of Washington in 1949. Ben moved his young family to the Territory of Hawaii in 1955 as Chief of Planning for the Air Force stationed at Hickam. After years of travel and deployments all around the Pacific Rim, his longest being the three years in Viet Nam prior to the fall in 1975, he retired from Hickam as Chief of Civil Engineering in the 80's. Ben then went to work for the State of Hawaii as Operations manager of the Kauai Airport, then Operations manager of Honolulu International Airport in the 90's. Still not ready to retire, Ben then worked for KFC Engineering in Honolulu as a consultant until his final retirement at the age of 82. For 60 years, Ben also designed and built numerous homes in Washington, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island with his own personal architectural design firm. Ben is preceded in death by his parents, John and Frederica Kosa, his brother John Kosa, sister Vivian Zydek and grandson Bryan Kosa. He is survived by his children from his first marriage, Karen (Lindsay) Kosa, Gig Harbor, WA; Kris (Ed) Kosa-Correia, Honoka'a, HI; Jon Kosa, Whidbey Island, WA; and Rene Kosa, Cle Elum, WA. Also, his 7 grandchildren: John Scoutten (Nashville, TN); Michael Scoutten (Tacoma, WA); Sharon Brack (Huddersfield, England); Stacie Higgins (Hilo, HI), Trevor Kosa (Olympia, WA); Ricky Kosa (Philadelphia, PA) and Jesse Kosa (Tacoma, WA), along with Ben's 18 great grandchildren. Ben is also survived by his hanai children, David (Michiko) Maniaci, Honolulu, HI; Carol Maniaci, Honolulu, HI; and Sophia Maniaci Stajduhar, Mossy Rock, WA along with Ben's 5 hanai grandchildren. Ben is also survived by wife Lien. Private services for friends and family were held February 5 at Punchbowl.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
