Jozef "Joseph" Kowalczyk, "Gone from our sight, but never our memories, Gone from our touch, but never our hearts". Joseph, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident, passed away at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at the age of 84 years.
The son of Leon and Apolonia Banach Kowalczyk, Joseph was born on Nov. 20, 1919 in Dobroclaw, Poland were he was raised.
During World War II, Joseph served in the Polish Army. He served time in German concentration camps during the War, and then transferred to an Internment camp after the war where he met Bronsilawa Pawlowicz. They were married in 1949.
Joseph, his wife, and daughter were sponsored to the United States by Stan Janicki, Sr. and family of Sedro-Woolley in Oct. of 1951. There Joseph worked in Shake mills for Stan Janicki, Sr. and John Gasparac until 1963 when he started working for Skagit Steel Corp. until his retirement in 1983.
Joseph was very devoted to his Church, a devoted husband to his wife, father to his children, and grandfather to his grandchildren.
He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Joseph enjoyed animals, especially his dogs, rabbits and pigeons.
Survivors include two sons, Leo Kowalczyk of Burlington, and Jon Kowalczyk and his wife Diane of Mount Vernon. Two daughters, Kriss Rainwater and fianc