Steven R. Kowalczewski Dies at His Home in Sitka

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Friday, 25 March 2022 15:22

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Steven Robin Kowalczewski died at home in Sitka March 16, 2022,  due to complications caused by lung cancer. He was 69.
He had first lived in Sitka during the 1990s, choosing to return in 2012 and remaining until the present.
Steve was born in London, England,  Oct. 26, 1952, to Witold Dizany Kowalczewski and Doreen  Mary Thurlow. Witold (“Vic”) was a Polish soldier who had escaped the joint German and Russian invasion of Poland to join Royal Air Force where he served for the duration of World War II. Doreen was a Londoner who worked for BBC at the time of their marriage.
The Kowalczewski family immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1953  and to Detroit, Michigan, in 1956 while following  Witold’s career as an engineer in the auto industry. After his parents divorced in 1962,  Steve remained with his mother and lived in Detroit, New Rochelle, New York, Chicago, Illinois, and Bellingham, Washington.
He finished high school in Bellingham in 1971  and after several years as a laborer he entered and completed an apprenticeship with  the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. His work as a carpenter brought him to Alaska in 1979 and over the years he lived in Bethel, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Sitka, working primarily in home construction and building maintenance.
Steve lived in Bethel from 1979 through 1989, employed as a carpenter for the Lower Yukon School District and by KYUK Radio as a radio engineer. There he met and married Ruth Mute of Kongoginak and they had two children, Shannon Doreen Kowalczewski and Joshua Victor Kowalczewski.
Steve was a master of chess, playing by mail and later via the internet, with others around the world. He worked hard to support his family and took pride in his craftsmanship. An independant thinker, he was a pacifist and retained British citizenship throughout his life.
He is survived by his sister Christina Kowalczewski (Bruce Gazaway) of Sitka; his former wife Ruth Mute Kowalczewski of Kongiganak; daughter Shannon Kowalczewski of Everett, Washington; son Joshua Kowalczewski of Kongiganak; and grandson Samuel McKeeman of Everett, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister Janet Whitner of Lynnwood, Washington.
The family wished to recognize SEARHC medical staff and the members of SEARHC Home Health Agency for the compassionate care provided during his last days.
Steve wanted no public memorial service and his family will inter his ashes in a private ceremony.

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