Richard Leonard Kowalsky, 80, lifetime resident of Cosmopolis and former Maintenance person at Weyerhaeuser’s Cosi Pulp Mill, died Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Capital Medical Center in Olympia, WA.
Richard was born in Aberdeen on May 13, 1935 to Leonard Wilton and Dorothy (Phillips) Kowalsky.
He graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1954 and on August 20, 1955, Richard married Joan Adele Wells at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen. She resides at the family home.
Richard from the age of 16, worked with his dad at the P&K Service Station in Cosi. He worked there until 1970 when he went to work at Weyerhaeuser’s Cosi Pulp Mill. He retired in 1993.
Richard was a 33 year member of the Cosmopolis Volunteer Fire Dept. and a member of the Aberdeen Eagles and the Midnight Cruisers Car Club. He enjoyed water skiing, boating and car shows. But by far, he enjoyed his summers away at his cabin on Spencer Lake in Shelton.
Richard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan Kowalsky of Cosmopolis; three sons: Leonard (Cathy) of Bothell, Richard (Darlene) of Marysville and David (Donna) of Cosmopolis; a daughter, Kathleen (Dave) Barnett of University Place; Step-brother, William (Orpha) McLaughlin, Shelton; Nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
There will be a gathering of friends and family on Saturday, January 23rd from 1-3 PM at the Cosmopolis Elementary School. He will be inurned at Forest Hill Cemetery, Cosmopolis.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Donations can be made to Cosmopolis Firefighters Assoc., P.O. Box 2011, Cosmopolis, WA 98537.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen.