Beloved husband, brother and stepfather William “Bill” Supak Jr. passed away on October 10, 2024 after a brief illness at the age of 83. Bill was born in Chicago Illinois on August 19,1941 to William L. Supak Sr and Emily Kratochvil Supak. An avid scholar and athlete, he graduated early from Gage High School having been captain of the football team and homecoming king.
Coming from a strong blue-collar family from the South Side of Chicago, Supak enlisted in the marines where he thrived and had skills honed which would serve him well later in life. He was very proud of being a Marine and after finishing his term of enlistment service, he continued on in the reserves. Under his GI BILL benefit, Supak attended Northern Illinois University where he earned both his BA and MBA.
Being a driven young man with a clear vision of his future, Supak began his career while still in high school in the accounting department of United Airlines. After working his way through the armed forces, college, and graduate school, Supak returned to United Airlines where he rapidly rose through the ranks to ultimately head the airline’s Portland, Oregon office. From there he joined the Port of Portland in 1981 to run the Portland Airport as Director of Aviation and ultimately as the Port’s Deputy Director. While there, he met the love of his life and future wife Linda S. Kozlowski.
Supak joined the Association General Contractors in 1990 as the Executive Director. In1998, he decided to enjoy a well-deserved retirement in his long dreamed of and deeply loved home in Manzanita. There, he was able to devote full time to his favorite hobbies: Fly fishing and creating beauty with his elegant Frank Lloyd Wright style-stained glass works of art. While he was gifted at tying his own flies for fishing, his true calling was creating beauty through his stained-glass art. His talent would provide revenue, all of which was donated to charity.
Supak had a soft spot in his heart for all animals, but particularly unfortunate strays, and never turned away an animal in need. For them he opened not only his heart but his home and spared no expense medically to nurse them back to health. He saved no less than 25 cats and dogs from dismal fates, providing them with love and want for nothing in their twilight years.
He was a voracious reader of everything from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker magazine to books on World War II (where his father served) and Vietnam to fishing, architecture, environment, and political science!
Bill Supak was a special man who cultivated deep friendships from Chicago’s south side to the west hills of Portland and beyond. He was a loyal and treasured friend, where his battle cries where more often ‘Semper Fi’ and ‘Go Bears!’
Bill Supak was preceded in death by parents William Supak Sr and Emily Kratochvil Supak, brother Robert Supak and stepson Jeffrey C. Kozlowski. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Linda Kozlowski, stepson Matthew B. Kozlowski and wife Cheryl Monke from Vancouver Washington. He has a large and deeply loved Chicago family including his brother Donald Supak and wife Margie, nephews Amy Kenny and husband Dermit, Michael Supak and wife Melissa and grandnephews Emily Kenny, Gavin Kenny, Colin Supak, Eleanor Supak, Olivia Fabis and Addison Fabis! A wonderful Texas contingent includes sister-in-law Joan Runnion and husband Ron, nephews Daniel Runnion and wife Emily, and Liz Runnion, grandnephews Aiden and Miles Runnion.
Services will be private. In lieu of cards or flowers, if you wish, please donate to Dove Lewis Animal Hospital in Portland or any charity that supports the wellbeing of animals on his behalf.
Go Bears!!! Semper fi!
