Kowalski, Regina K. (1921-2016)
KOWALSKI, CZUBA, MATEJ, PYTEL, CAMPBELL, WHITTAKER, GAZAWAY, TOOMER, SMITH, FOSTER, UTTER, WILSON, LARSON MARCZEWSKI
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/20/2016 at 13:57:34
Regina K. Kowalski
November 6, 1921 - July 10, 2016Surrounded by her loving family, Regina Kowalski, age 94, of Storm Lake, Iowa, triumphantly went to meet her Lord and Savior on July 10, 2016, after a brief illness.
Regina Katarzyna Czuba was born on November 6, 1921, to Teodor and Maria (Matej) Czuba in rural Wysokie, Poland. The youngest of four children born to a hard working farm family, they grew a variety of crops including tobacco for the government, flowers, potatoes, and many vegetables. In addition, they kept honey bees and each family member had to harvest his/her own bee suit. The children and their mother, all had to help to keep up the farm. They went to town to sell their vegetables, flowers/plants, honey, and butter that Maria had made into the shape of rose (a big seller!) Coming from a very musical family, Regina had a beautiful voice as well. Moreover, she attended seamstress school in nearby Wysokie, which she said was a six kilometer walk one way but she didn’t mind, most days.
When Regina turned eighteen, their lives changed forever as World War II broke out, and eventually both Russian and German soldiers invaded their farm and camped there for weeks determining how the two would split Poland in half. There were endless stories of life and death, bombings and miracles. After separation, work camps, and the liberation by the Americans, a young girl alone in northern Germany found her way back to her family in southern Germany. They had a glorious reunion. Regina had an excellent memory and enamored many with her stories of Poland. Her steadfast faith carried her through her most difficult times, and she leaves a legacy of faith in God to her family. Miraculously and by God’s grace, all of her immediate family members survived the war.
Displaced but together in a refugee camp in Germany for four years, they awaited their fate. During that time, Regina met Antoni Kowalski, a Polish POW. She had three suitors vying for her affection, but she was drawn to the way Tony looked after her family, always ensuring they had enough coal to keep warm. He must have warmed her heart because the two married in that refugee camp on August 31, 1946. Then, the family had to choose between staying in Poland or going to Canada or the USA. Because they had lost their farm, they decided to come to America.
They found the road difficult, but they were determined to live the American dream. Tony and Regina were blessed with three daughters: Barbara, Teresa, and Joanne. After a farmer near Rembrandt sponsored them for one year, they made Storm Lake, Iowa, their lifelong home. Regina worked briefly at the Bradford Hotel, but she worked mainly as a homemaker making a loving home and caring for her children and her aging parents. An avid gardener, she was never in short supply of vegetables or flowers. She was active in the funeral choir at church, Catholic Daughters of America, and St. Mary’s Guild. Full of hospitality, she, would insist her guests have something to eat. The grandkids always knew they would find a fully stocked candy dish and that the freezer or cupboard would have a plate of cookies just awaiting their visit. Proud to become an American, she obtained her citizenship in 2007.
Regina loved her family dearly and prayed for them without ceasing. Her frequent comments in her later years was just how lucky she was to have such a loving family to care for her, always grateful for any act of kindness towards her. She was poised, steadfast, and opinionated about her politics with an amazing experiential world view. Her family will remember her warmth, her love, her nurturing spirit, her beautiful Polish accent, her peonies, her many stories, her amazing garden, cherry soup, pierogi, bobka, and many Polish dishes. She will be dearly missed by all those that knew and loved her.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Barb Pytel, of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Teresa Campbell, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Joanne (Dave) Whittaker, of West Des Moines, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Lisa (Jeff) Gazaway, of Urbandale, Iowa, Mark (Ruth Rice) Toomer, of Polk City, Iowa, Erin (Tim) Smith, of Storm Lake, Iowa, Ashley Foster, of Polk City, Iowa, Andrew Pytel, of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Emily (Will) Utter, also of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Sara Wilson, of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Hannah (fiancé Jeff Larson) Whittaker, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; thirteen great-grandchildren: Avery, Bennett, Eden, and Emerson Smith; Gavin, Gillian, Miranda, and Samuel Toomer; AbreElla, Brayden, Thomas, and Trigg Utter; and Kallin Wilson; her sister-in-law, Bernice Czuba; and her cousin, Dr. Leszek (Marissa) Marczewski; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Regina was preceded in death by her husband, Antoni, in 1991; her parents, Teodor and Maria; her sister, Sabina; her brothers, Chester and Henry; infant twin siblings, Amelia and John; and her son-in-law Richard Pytel.
A Funeral Mass will be offered Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will take place Tuesday, July 12, 2016, from 5: tp 7:00 p.m. with a rosary at 5:00 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
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