08/04/2021
Johnnie “John” Lee Kotalik, 80, of Bates City, Missouri passed away Sunday, March 28, 2021. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 10th at Royer Funeral Home of Oak Grove. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
He was born on April 21, 1940 in Table Rock, Nebraska, the only child of John and Erma (Karas) Kotalik. Sometime after graduating from high school he began working for the F.W. Woolworth Company. At 24 years old, he was named manager (one of the youngest managers in company history) of the Woolworth store in Liberal, KS. That started a long career in retail. Because of his excellence in that field, he was transferred to different stores in several states to bring them up to proficient standards. He ended his tenure with them in 1983 when the Woolco division he was working for at the time was liquidated. He then started his own company of selling items at motorcycle rallies and trade shows from Sturgis, South Dakota to Daytona Beach, Florida. He spent most of the last 15 years at Nate’s Swap Shop. He was an extremely friendly man with many acquaintances. He will be greatly missed.
John was preceded in death by his parents.
John is survived by his three children: Michael Kotalik (Cheryl) of St. Louis, MO, Jonna Scott (Allen) of Osage Beach, MO and Tom Kotalik (Lorrie) of Excelsior Springs, MO; five grandchildren: Christy, Rachel, Serena, Graci and Sam; three great-grandchildren: Dalton, Raegan and Grayson; and his partner of 17 years Christina Miller.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO 816-690-4441
