Jerome (Jerry) Vincent Kowalski

June 3, 1925 – August 5, 2010

Jerry Kowalski passed away at his home on Bainbridge Island surrounded by his family of six children, their spouses, his good friend and former wife, Barbara Kowalski, and his devoted dog, Zorro. He is survived by Dan Kowalski (Melissa), Jenny Kowalski, Lissa Kowalski Beytebiere, Todd Kowalski (Leona McQueen), Gregg Kowalski (Cate), Karen Hogan (Mike), his former wife Barbara Kowalski and his ten grandchildren. Living siblings include Donald Kowalski of Walnut Creek, CA and Norbert Kowalski (Jane), of Bainbridge Island. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Tom Kowalski.

Jerry was born in Chicago, Ill. to Marie and Vincent Kowalski. He entered the army Signal Corps at age 18 and served in China. When the war ended he went to New Delhi, India and worked at a radio station. Returning home, he entered college at the University of Colorado, Boulder where he earned his Geology degree in 1951. He launched his career in the oil and gas industry as a Landman and eventual Land Manager for several oil and gas companies, first in Salt Lake City, Utah and for most of his career in Denver, Colorado. He retired in 1991 as Vice President of the Land Department of DeKalb Energy Company.

His interests included travel to countries in Western Europe, Africa, Mexico, Latin America, Indonesia, and French Polynesia where his focus was on the culture and the daily living of the inhabitants of each country. At home he avidly pursued politics, economics, and history through reading and listening to public radio, as well as enjoying the culinary habits of the countries he had visited.

Jerry Kowalski’s legacy was one of honesty, hard work, questioning and continual learning from many sources. He was proud of his ethnic background and was a loyal and loving patriarch to his family.

Internment is through the Neptune Society. A memorial for the family will be in early September. Donations to his memory can be made to the Sierra Club, 85 Second Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-3441; KUOW Puget Sound FM Public Radio, P.O. Box 84108, Seattle, WA 98124-5448; or Hospice of Kitsap County, P.O. Box 3416, Silverdale, WA 98383.

TRIBUTE Paid Notice