John Kologinczak

John Bruno Kologinczak passed away at his home in Bryan, Texas on Friday June 9th, 2023, at the age of 89. Although his passing was sudden, it was a blessing that his grandson Patrick Markland was with him during his final moments.

John was born in 1934 and during his time in the Airforce at Cape Cod, he met Shirley Oliva. They married in 1956 and raised 4 children together. The young couple shared a passion for soulful music and a talent for dancing. Though divorced in 1974, they developed a friendship that was valued by both Shirley and John.

During John Kologinczak’s 30+ year career in oil exploration, he traveled throughout 5 continents. He was well-respected in the field of oil exploration and contributed to many of the methods and early approaches to this discipline. John had colorful and interesting stories of his world travels and felt that these experiences informed his outlook and perspective regarding many important components of life. Some of John’s favorite stories involved his trips to Africa and his beloved South America, where he learned to speak Spanish.

John Kologinczak enjoyed dancing (two-step, waltz, tango, and other traditional dances). He had a natural ability in this arena and his friends and family loved to watch him shine while he participated in this hobby. In addition to dancing, Kologinczak loved and valued the music of gifted songwriters/musicians including Don Williams, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Reed and The Texas Tornados.

Family was so important to JBK. He deeply adored his children and family, and they felt this love. When speaking of his brothers and sister—the respect, love, and regard John felt for his siblings was abundantly clear.

Kologinczak was admired for his intelligence and his love of logic problems and riddles. To this day, some of his kids are still trying to work out a few of the most challenging of these offerings.

John Bruno Kologinczak had the ability and willingness to acknowledge some of his life’s regrets and he made amends to many loved ones for things he wished he had done differently. This beautiful example of grace, self-awareness and humility, has been a healing gift to these loved ones.

Although John claimed Agnosticism (he did not know for certain of the of the existence of God or the lack of an existence of God), among his most beloved possessions was a prayer card given to him in 1945 by a nun, Sister Assumpta. He reread this card periodically during his later years and he treasured it greatly.

The descriptions above are only some of the things that made John Bruno Kologinczak an interesting and complex man. Although he will be greatly missed by family and friends, his contributions to this world remain alive and impactful.

John is survived by 3 of his children: Deborah Markland (Mike Coleman), Chris Kologinczak (Stacie Williamson), Teresa Kologinczak and by the mother of his children, Shirley Kologinczak. He is also survived by his brothers, Julian Kologinczak (Gertrude Kologinczak) and Kenny Kologinczak and by his sister Diana Allen (Wayne Allen), 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his eldest son, Steven John Kologinczak, two of his brothers, Frank Kologinczak Jr. and Bernard Kologinczak, and by his parents Frank Kologinczak Sr. and Agnes Kologinczak.