KALIDA – Richard L. Kortokrax, 91, passed away June 7th, 2025, at the home of his daughter, surrounded in loving prayer by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Richard “Dick” Kortokrax was born August 9th, 1933, to the late Leo and Louella Kortokrax of Ottoville, Ohio. On July 7th, 1956, he married his college sweetheart, Donna Mae Preston of Norton, Kansas. This began a beautiful east-west love story that gave birth to eight children, 29 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. In 2010, Donna preceded him in death, with Richard and her children at her side during a visit to Colorado where they had honeymooned years before.
 Richard was a graduate of Anderson college, where he and Donna met, and he was on a full scholarship as a standout basketball player for the Anderson Ravens from 1952 to 1956. Later he returned to Indiana with his wife and three little girls to complete his master’s degree at Ball State University. Richard began his high school boys’ basketball coaching career in Ft. Jennings, Ohio, in 1958. He never intended to have a coaching career and was still playing semi-pro basketball himself, but coaching was a requirement to retain his teaching position. His love of education quickly expanded to include teaching “the love of the game to young men.” Thus began a legendary 56-year career that ended 890 wins later with his retirement in 2016. Throughout his career, Coach Kortokrax resisted highlighting individual stats and preached the importance of teamwork. It was important to him that any discussion of his career included his appreciation for the dedication and talents of all his assistant coaches, managers, trainers, cheerleaders, mascots, player parents and of course, the many players he coached over the course of his career.
 In the words of his granddaughter who expressed it so well … He is Ohio’s winningest high school boys’ basketball coach a title that speaks volume. But ask anyone who played for him (or learned from him) and they’ll tell you it wasn’t about the wins. It was about becoming men of integrity, learning to push past limits, to lead, to lose with grace, and win with humility…he coached basketball, yes, but most importantly he coached life. His priorities were clear and unshakeable, God first, then family, then coaching. His final words to those at his bedside were … “I love my family, and I love Jesus.”
 Richard is survived by seven children, Dr. Debra (Phil) Kortokrax-Clark, Diana (Mike) Morrow, Dana (Tom Bellmann) Kortokrax, Rick (Mary) Kortokrax, Randy (Mindy) Kortokrax, Beth (Keith Nartker) Kortokrax, and Susan (Ron Parisi) Kortokrax. His son Robert (Cindy) Kortokrax and grand-daughter Valentina Rose Parisi preceded him in death. He is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren and siblings Marianne (Jack) Schimmoeller, Unalee (Arch) Kious and Jerry (Bea) Kortokrax.
 Visitation for Richard will be on June 12th from 5pm to 8pm and June 13th from 2pm to 8pm at the Love-Heitmeyer Jackson Township Funeral Home. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kalida at 10:30am on June 14th followed by lunch for family and friends.
 Memorial contributions will be used for a scholarship fund in honor of Richard and Donna in recognition of their lifelong love of education, sports and the musical arts.
 Condolences may be expressed at www.lovefuneralhome.com