James "Jim" Kazmierski
April 10, 1946 ~ April 14, 2024
Born in:
Aurora, Colorado
Resided in:
Bryan, Texas
Coach Kaz, also known as James Daniel Kazmierski, passed away on April 14, 2024, in Tyler, Texas, at the age of 78. He was born on April 10, 1946, in Lovelace, CO.
Coach Kaz was a beloved figure, never knowing a stranger. Throughout his extensive career as a teacher and football coach, he made a lasting impact on countless lives. Known for his compassionate nature, he was always ready to offer a hug or lend a listening ear.
He is survived by his sons, Chris (wife Niki) and Mike (wife Carla), and his grandchildren, Daylan, Kacey, Piper, Porter, Gabrielle Michna (Boyfriend EJ), Ginger Martin (Husband Luke) and Great Grandkids Leo and Maxine Martin. Coach Kaz was preceded in death by his wife, Donna, his mother Mona, his father Frank, and his sister Judy.
Coach Kaz’s coaching journey began at Denison High School, where he spent 7 years before moving to Waxahachie High School, where he taught and coached for 16 years. He then coached at Bryan High School for 10 years before concluding his coaching career at A&M Consolidated High School after 2 years there.
A Head Deacon at Waxahachie Bible Church, Coach Kaz was actively involved in Grace Bible Church after relocating to Bryan. His passion for sports, especially football, golfing, and spending time with his beloved grandkids, reflected his joyful spirit. He was often fond of saying “Doing fantastic but working on sensational.” This epitomized his attitude toward life. He was just as at home coaching on the football field as he was holding an infant in the nursery at church. Every Sunday you would find him at the front of Waxahachie Bible Church holding the door open and giving out hugs to everyone that wanted one. He truly had one of the biggest hearts a person could have.
Memorial Services will be held at Callaway Jones Funeral Home in Bryan on Saturday, April 20 at 2pm. Callaway Jones Funeral Home in Bryan, Texas, is assisting with the arrangements.
Coach Kaz will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. May his memory be a blessing to those whose lives he touched.
As a tribute to Jim, please feel free to wear Aggie or Hawaiian shirts.
Services
Memorial Service: April 20, 2024 2:00 pm
Callaway-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Center
3001 S College Ave
Bryan, TX 77801
979-822-3717
https://callawayjones.com
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2024-04-20 14:00:00
2024-04-20 14:00:00
James "Jim"KazmierskiMemorial Service
Memorial Service
3001 S College Ave,Bryan, TX 77801
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We love y’all
Thank you Jeff and Darla!!!!! We truly appreciate you and your love and thoughts!!!!! He loved you too and Brody and Prissi and the kiddos. He always asked how you all were doing.
Michael and Carla.
My oldest brother, Jimmy, was always an inspiration to me from my very youth. He was an all-around athlete in high school, where I first started hearing of his accomplishments. He was all-district in multiple sports, football and baseball. He also earned multiple honorable mentions at the state level. When he started attending A&M in 1964 on a full scholarship for football under Hank Foldberg, I was stoked. Funny, for the times he was one of the BIG linemen at 6’2″ and 225 lbs. The next year Gene Stallings took over, and Jim played under Stalling through the 1969 season.
Jim was one heck of a guy – everyone loved him. He was a strong believer in God, and Jesus Christ as his redeemer. He has now joined his wife, Donna, my parents, her parents and many others who truly loved him.
His struggle was with Diabetes, which can be a killer, and everyone should be aware of this disease.
David Kazmierski ’72
Love you Uncle David!!!!!
Joshua 1:9.
Love your daughter n law Carla Graham Kazmierski
Coach Kaz,
The best offensive line coach in the business and a great person. He was wonderful at teaching blocking technique and getting the most out of his players. He always wanted you to leave it all on the field no matter the outcome.
He loved to run drills over and over again, at the time you hated it but looking back that’s how we got so good on Friday night.
You could tell he loved his job and his players as well.
We miss you my friend.
Appreciate you Nick!!!! Your words are mean so much to us all. Love hearing the stories and re-living some of the old times. Happy to hear from you and thank you for posting for our Dad.
I am so sad to hear about your Dad, Mike. I’m sending lots of love and prayers your way.
My sincerest condolences to the Kazmierski family. My son, Kenan Dever, has adored this family since his Bryan High football days and the “fruits” of his relationships with you will last a lifetime. I’m sure Coach Kaz would be pleased to know the impact of his coaching on Kenan’s life, but more importantly, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his relationship with Christ. Thank you, Mike, for your friendship over the years, and I am thankful for your heavenly angel, Donna, for welcoming him in your home. May wonderful memories bring you comfort, and may the arms of Jesus bring you peace that passes all understanding. God bless you all.
Coach Kaz made a real difference in my husband’s life, my life, and the lives of my sons that he coached and mentored. We coached and taught together at BHS and I learned so very very much from him about so many things. He was a Coach that could change a young man’s life by his teaching and his living a life of an athlete, teacher, coach, brother, father, husband, and a role model of how to be a fine man and strong Christian. His players played at a higher level FOR HIM, because they cared about him so much that they would give him all they had. His example as a Christian both on and off the field was foremost. Our Bryan FCA thrived under he and David Greeno. There is no telling how many High Schoolers lives were changed by our FCA.
All of you, Kazmierski family, are in my heart’s prayers. He has left a wonderful LEGACY for you to cherish, always.
Ruthie Waller
Coach Kaz,
Thank you for changing my life. You were responsible for a decision my family and I made in 1995 that sent me on a journey of personal betterment and success beyond what I could have ever imagined. Thank you for my FCA journey and my leadership journey. I owe you so much and I am so appreciative that you took your time and love to mentor me over the years. I can’t wait to see you again someday and talk football again.
Love you Coach!
J.P. Waller
Uncle Jimmy was one of my favorite people on this planet. His lunch and dinner outings with me and my roommate Cayleigh in college always brightened our week. Him and Donna were just the sweetest people to be around. I admired his love and admiration for his family and his fierce love for Christ. Everyone I have ever ran into that knew him, loved him. I will miss him answering the phone with his “Hey good lookin’ what ya got cookin'” It always brought the biggest smile to my face to just have him in my life. Until me meet again one day.
Kaz,
As a junior on the Aggie team when you were a freshman, we all knew you were a great man and would always be and you were.
Proud to tell anyone, “yes, we were teammates.”
Jim
Cameron Spikes and family
Appreciate ya Cam!!!!! You were always one of my dad’s favorites!!!!
Coach Kaz,
You were such an inspiration to us as a teacher, and a coach. I have fond memories of my time in Waxahachie. You and the other coaches made life easy. Thank you for all you did for us. Sorry I can’t make it to the funeral. I’m praying for you, and your family. RIP Coach Kaz. I will miss you.
Jim and I were classmates in high school and friends for life. They don’t make many like him anymore. Such caring, God fearing downright wonderful men don’t exist much in this day and age. To his family rejoice in his life of teaching and coaching many young people and the lasting impression he made in their lives. I can see him smiling with Donna by his side- rock on Kaz – you were loved by all!!
Prayers from Colorado family- Jim was a special man and had so much love to
give! Sending love from ginger Luke and Jim’s great grand kids Leo and Maxine Martin. Until we meet again.
Thank you Ginger!!!! Dad always loved seeing the videos and Pics of his great grandkids!!!!!! He loved all of you and all that you have brought to my family. ❤️
Tina Garcia (DeLaRosa) C/O 97
Godspeed Kaz.
As 1st cousins we regretfully never got to see much of the Texas Kazmierski’s as we live in New York. We really enjoyed our visit in 2008 and met a lot of cousins and their families, which we had never met before. Our family tree albums were quite a hit and we loved sharing photos and memories with Jimmy, Donna and all your family. We filled in lots of names and dates and had a wonderful time while there. Please extend our sympathies to the whole Kazmierski clan. Our thoughts are with you.
I can just see him smiling and hugging everyone at Waxahachie Bible Church. It was always great when he came back to visit us! He also coached our church women’s softball team. He would tell us gals in the outfield, “Get your skirts down, ladies”! In other words, don’t let that ball get past you. I must confess there were some balls that got past me! But he was always encouraging and loving as our coach.
He and your mom would keep one of our boys when Billy and I went with Chris and the youth group to Six Flags as chaperones. I believe we sent Daniel to your house because I remember him talking about staying with Big Mike!
Your family was a great testimony and encouragement to our family, and we do appreciate the leadership of your dad with a “young” Church.
One more memory- We were actually at Midlothian Bible church with your family before WBC was founded. Your dad would lead the singing there and often he had one of you young boys up there with him, hanging on his leg. He was a good husband and father.
We are so blessed to have known all of you. Our love and prayers for your comfort during this time.
Brenda & Billy Eaton
Miss ya man
Since we moved north in 2016, I was already missing not seeing him. We used to eat lunch just about every Thursday at Rudy’s BBQ. I certainly can’t say enough good things about Coach Kaz, but J. P. Waller’s testimony really sums of the life of this man! Unwavered, deication to sharing the life changing message of salvation through Jesus Christ!
RIP Coach Kaz, you are already sorely missed,
The Dallas Family
Appreciate you Pat!!!!!
My first job out of college was working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Dallas. One of my responsibilities was to visit high schools and coaches who led FCA groups in the Metroplex. Being a rookie and needing the best experience possible with an FCA coach my first time out, the FCA staff team sent me to Coach Kaz for my first visit. They knew no better coach to encourage, empower, and inspire a young FCA staffer than Kaz. After my meeting with Kaz at Waxahachie HS and his words of truth and grace, I was ready serve with the selfless servant leadership that he so powerfully exemplified. Thank you Kaz for your legacy of Christ-like influence. I look forward to seeing you again.
Joyful that Kaz is reunited with the love of his life….. what a beautiful example of marriage they were. Donna Kaz & Coach Kaz…… together again.
Sadness abounds in waves as I remember the man, the coach, the encouragement and the friendship i will miss so very much.
….blessed to have had known Coach Kaz.
Thankful for our times together.
He was a special person to me and many.