Walter Kowalewski, died Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Autumn Lane in Birnamwood. He was 85 years old. He was born on June 21, 1926 in Milwaukee, a son of Casimir and Frances (Prodzinski) Kowalewski. He married Marina Sciano on April 17, 1948 in Milwaukee. She survives.
Mr. Kowalewski served in the United States Army in the second battalion of the 359 infantry regiment, the 90th Infantry Division, 20th Corp, 3rd Army and served under General Patton. He served one year as a military government officer-military police in France and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. While in Rhineland East Germany he participated in the liberation of Germany and in the concentration camps. He also fought on the Siegfreid Line, St. Vitt Belgium where he was injured in battle. He was a Purple Heart recipient and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious achievement in ground combat in the European African Middle Eastern Theater. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mr. Kowalewski was employed as a mason foreman at Joseph P. Jansen Construction Company in Milwaukee for many years. He retired in 1981 and moved to Rose Lake in 1984.
He was an outdoorsman having enjoyed hunting, fishing and working outside. He also loved to polka and ballroom dance with his wife.
In addition to his wife survivors include two daughters Lynn (Tony) Jira, Deerbrook and Darlene (Phillip) Moberg, Waukesha; three sons, Matthew (Linda) Kowalewski, Pewaukee, Micheal Kowalewski, Sussex and Thomas (Linda) Kowalewski, Waukesha; two sisters, Betty Klein, Glendale, Arizona and Rose Rick, Fond du lac; eight grandchildren, Rebecca, Laura (Tony), April (TJ), Jessica, Michelle, Ashley (Darryl), Kevin and Katelyn; and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a grandson Andy Kowalewski; his step-mother, Catherine (Musolf); sisters, Helen Maus, June Lonn, Frances Lonn, Lillian Melnski and Agnes Rekowski; and brothers, Charles, Leonard and John.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bradley Funeral Home with Rev. Omer Kelley officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services. Antigo veterans will conduct military rites at the funeral home following the memorial service.
His family would like to thank LeRoyer Hospice, staff at Autumn Lane, Dr. Myers and the staff at Langlade Memorial Hospital for the wonderful care provided to Walter.
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Antigo, WI 54409
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Antigo, WI 54409
What a wonderful summary of your dad's life! My condolences to you and your family for such a loss. God be with you all.
I appreciate that Dad was bluntly honest. He was real and transparent, and modeled truthfulness. He was a man of integrity and good character, with attributes, to name a few, of faithfulness, reliability, compassion, and forgiveness. Dad was also resourceful and gifted. He industriously utilized his skills in masonry, carpentry, and roofing, as well as his talents for electrial work (electrical inspectors approved his work on two of his homes that he built). He had common sense, but moreover, he was perceptive, intuitive, and smart. Dad was wise. He'd give sage-old advise, if asked. If he didn't know how to accomplish a task, he'd read up on it. If necessity is the mother of invention, it drove him to gain abilities to maintain his home and old vehicles--old, because the family-man in him provided his kids with a "private", early-school education. As a much younger Dad, he was fun-loving. He'd toboggan and ice-skate with us older kids. (One winter, he flooded his small, city-lot yard to create an iceskating rink!) He was also a faithful husband and took his "in sickness and in health" vows seriously, caring for Mom during her illnesses. (One time, Dad protectively advocated for Mom by adamantly debating with her doctor regarding her medical care! And Dad, after his having become well-informed about her condition, was correct!) Most of all, Dad was proud to be an American and he ranks in what's known as "The Greatest Generation" of Americans! I simply just can't say enough about him. It's sadly ironic that he suffered through the last few years with the delusion of dementia, since he lived his life in the reality of truth. (I heard of a time when the compassionate nursing home staff (Thank you!) kindly allowed Dad to sit up late in the cafeteria, in anticipation of Mom's "imagined" visit. Even dementia didn't keep Dad from being faithfully loyal and loving.) Dad loved Mom and loved us kids, until his very last breath. I miss him, but I'm comforted that he was a believer and IS with The LORD. (I hope I've comforted you. I want to leave you with this, too. Imagine: Dad's happily teamed up with his friend, Jesus, on carpentry projects of "preparing a place" for all of us. It's not scriptural, but it comforts me. We'll be with Dad, again. Keep trusting Jesus!) May God Bless You and Keep You! Love, Darlene & Phil Moberg
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