Sixty year resident and Kings Beach community founder and leader Mike Kornazewich died peacefully at his home June 14, 2008 surrounded by his children. Mike and his wife Virginia moved from Alameda, Calif. where he was stationed as a Navy Chief, to Kings Beach in October 1947 when Mike opened "Mike's Floor Covering " a business he owned and operated for over 50 years. He was well known in the area as the person responsible for installing the floors in many many new condos, homes, etc. Mike and Virginia also ran the North Tahoe Telephone Exchange from 1948 until 1954.
Mike was instrumental in founding the North Tahoe PUD. He coached Little League and was responsible for improving the field by adding grass for the players that is still being used today. He was a member of the Rotary Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mike had a passion for local politics, charities, sports and the VFW. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing all of the surrounding areas of Lake Tahoe.
Mike was preceded in death by his wife Virginia Kornazewich in October 1971.
He is survived by his children Michael Kornazewich, Kim Kornazewich-Smith, Anna Amorim, and Nicholas Kornazewich; grandchildren, Brandon, Romaine, Hilary Holbrook, Anda Amorin and Javad Amorim and his sister-in-law Barbara Gawronski and her family of Carson City.
A private funeral for family members will be held and a Celebration of Life will be open to the community in the Fall of 2008. The date will be announced.
The Kornazewich Family is deeply grateful to the Tahoe Forest Hospice for making Mike's passing a personal and dignified experience for Mike and his family.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Tahoe Forest Hospice PO Box 759 Truckee, Ca. 96160-0759