Alvin Axel Koski

Alvin Axel Koski, 65, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, April 1, 2007 in Grants Pass.

All who knew him are invited to a celebration of life from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2007 at the Grants Pass Elks Lodge (Cedar Room).

Condolences may be sent to the family at [emailprotected]

Alvin was born December 9, 1941 in Cloquet, Minnesota to Axel and Ida Koski and grew up in Two Harbors, Minnesota. After serving in the United States Navy, he attended Foothill College where he served as Student Council President. He went on to earn his MBA from the University of Southern California. In 1968 he moved from California to Portland where he served as Community Education Coordinator at Portland Community College. In 1975 he moved from Portland to Grants Pass. In Grants Pass, he served as Associate Dean of Instruction at Rogue Community College, owned his own business, worked for SOREDI, was co-founder and Executive Vice-President of SOVI Culinary Institute, and was Director of Economic Development for Josephine County.

He was a member of the Elks Club, Eagles Lodge, American Legion, and was a Rotarian.

He loved to read, play guitar, fly-fish, camp, and take trips in his motorhome.

Survivors include his wife, Jan Koski; daughters, Laura Thompson and Jennifer Jones; stepdaughter, Tawnia Stinson; grandchildren, David Donovan, Hayden Jones, Braden Thompson, Gianna Thompson, and Anjulie Jones; his mother, Ida Koski; sister, Gloria Blankenship, niece, Sue Steele; and nephews, Mark and David Blankenship.

He was preceded in death by his father.