Peter Kotila, Sr.

Peter Earl Kotila, Sr.

1925 - 2018

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Obituary of Peter Earl Kotila, Sr.

Peter Earl Kotila Sr., 93 was peacefully taken into the arms of our Heavenly Father on May 5, 2018. Earl was born on April 1, 1925 in Mirando, Texas the third child of Olga Thorena Kotila (Shulstad) and Arthur Edward Kotila. As a very young child, the family moved to Hancock, Michigan. Following high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was an AAF Air Crew Member (Wings) Gunner. He was honorably discharged February 1946. Utilizing the GI Bill, Earl went on to attend Michigan Tech, Houghton, Michigan where he graduated in June 1950 having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry.

Following graduation, he began a very long management career in logging operations for Owens-Illinois.

Through mutual friends, Earl met the love of his life Virginia "Ginny" Alice Latola in his hometown of Hancock, Michigan. They were married October 10, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan. Through this marriage, they were blessed with a daughter, Sarah Ann in September 1956 and a son, Peter Earl Kotila, Jr. in March 1959. Earl's work took the family to many exotic places beginning in Four Center, Minnesota then to the Bahamas Islands (Abaco, Andros and Grand Bahamas) and finally retiring in the late 1980s in Jasper, Texas culminating in a nearly 40 year career with Owens-Illinois. After retiring Earl and Ginny moved to Meridian, Idaho to be near their children. Earl and Ginny loved to travel, exploring and visiting many national parks, fishing, hunting and spending time with family and friends. Earl was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, wife Virginia; brother Myron Kotila; sister Ruth Small, and daughter Sarah (Michael) Bledsoe. He is survived by his son Peter Earl Kotila Jr. Meridian, Idaho, granddaughter Tasha Brock Boise, Idaho; grandsons, Zachary Bledsoe and Haakon Bledsoe Meridian, Idaho, Jung Soo Kim (Jessica) Eaton, Pennsylvania and four great grandchildren as well as numerous other family.

Graveside services will be held at Dry Creek Cemetery, 9600 Hill Road, Boise, Idaho on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 2 P.M. The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff at Idaho State Veterans Home Boise, Idaho for their compassionate and dedicated care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

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Thursday
10
May

Graveside Service

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Dry Creek Cemetery
9600 Hill Rd
Boise, Idaho, United States
(208) 853-1940