"Jean and family, Dan was a wonderful husband, father and friend. We will miss his voice in choir -- but remember that he is still with us in a very real way. This poem was given to my family when my father died in September. It speaks as my dad would have spoken about death -- his or others'. Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before, only better! How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again! Infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together with Christ. By Henry Scott Holland "
In loving memory of
Daniel Kokott
August 13, 1931 - November 9, 2014
Madison - Daniel Kokott was born August 13, 1931 to Rose (Waldera) and Michael Kokott of Arcadia, Wisconsin. He grew up on a farm where plowing was still done by horses, bread was baked in an outdoor wood-fired oven, and Polish was spoken in the home. He attended St. Michaels, a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Arcadia High School. He served in the U.S. Army, fighting at the front in Korea, and was honorably discharged.
After returning home, he graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and became a highly-respected HVAC designer and consultant. In 1960, he and Jean MacKenzie married at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Madison, where they settled. With great pride they raised two sons, Robert and John, and later enthusiastically welcomed their daughter-in-law Melissa and grandsons Nicholas and Tyler. His family means everything to him.
Dan was a long-time member of St. Maria Goretti Church where he loved to sing in the choir and volunteered in many ways. He served as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, was a member of the American Legion Post 151, coached little league football, refereed high school football, served on the board of the West Madison YMCA, volunteered on Madison's Zoning Board of Appeals, and helped restore the wild turkey to his beloved Wisconsin through his activism with the National Wild Turkey Federation.
He was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer, and bowler, and generally outplayed everyone at Bridge, Euchre, Sheepshead, and Cribbage. Everyone found warm welcome at his door. For that, and so much more, he was and is deeply loved by all his big family and numerous friends old and new.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife, Jean; sons, Robert and John (Melissa); grandsons Nicholas and Tyler; special Godson and nephew, William Kokott; many other wonderful nieces and nephews; Jean's relatives; and good friends.
The family wishes to thank the loving and professional caregivers at the VA Hospital, All Saints Memory Care, Agrace Hospice, and BrightStar Memory Care where he passed away peacefully, at the age of 83, on November 9th.
A visitation will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Avenue, Madison, with Fr. Vince Brewer presiding. A visitation will also be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at church on Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711; St. Maria Goretti Church Choir, 5313 Flad Avenue, Madison, WI 53711; or Alzheimer's Association, South Central Wisconsin, 7818 Big Sky Drive, Ste. 109, Madison, WI 53719.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434
Please share your memories at
www.cressfuneralservice.com
Tributes
"Jean, Bob (to me) and John - your dad was truly one of a KIND, his laughter and big smile will live on in my heart - as will all the memories of watching him admire you boys as you grew up, and getting me safely home after pulling a day shift with you boys. I'm praying for, and thinking of you all, always. Kay (& Stan) Muchow"
"Jean and Family, So sorry to hear about Dan. He was always fun to talk to and be around. Please know that I am thinking of you all and praying for you."
"The Scott Driscoll family extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to "Mom Kokott" (Jean), Robert, John, and the entire Kokott family. We submit our love, wishing you peace and comfort in this time of grief.
It was an honor and a privilege to have grown up surrounded by great men like Dan (always Mr. Kokott to me). Over the many years of hanging out at the house on Regis Road, playing cards, taking the boat out for a spin, playing golf or just shooting bull, I really got to know how wonderful Dan was.
I learned a great deal from Mr. Kokott ; how to hit your cut-off man, how to play Hearts, the best approach coming into the green on 12 at Odana, where the fish were biting, and how to load your own shotgun shells. But most of all, what Mr. Kokott taught me was how to be loyal, trustworthy, a man of character, and to speak your mind openly if you are truly convicted. For that, I am forever grateful.
Godspeed on your next journey Mr. Kokott- you'll always have a special place in my heart.
"