Obituary of Walter B. Kowalski

Walter B. Kowalski (Kay) Walter "Vodge" Kowalski (Kay) of the Town of Poughkeepsie entered into rest Thursday, September 22, 2005 at home surrounded by family and friends. He was 86 Born in Stuyvesant Falls, New York on January 26, 1919, he was one of ten children of Andrew and Josephine Kowalski. Of his siblings, he is survived by his sister Marge Bogarski of Stuyvesant Falls and brothers, Yosh Kowalski of Stuyvesant Falls and Andrew (Bud) Kowalski of Colorado Springs. He is predeceased by his sisters Victoria Clowe and Mary Novak, and his brothers, Stanley, Edward, Bernard and Anthony. Following graduation from Martin Van Buren High School in Kinderhook, he joined the United States Army, 10th Mountain Division and received many commendations as a Second Lieutenant. Walter attended MIT and received his electrical engineering degree from Clarkson College in 1952. He relocated to Poughkeepsie where he enjoyed a successful management career with IBM for 25 years, retiring in 1977. Walter was a communicant of St. Mary's Church and was professed as a member of the Third Order of Franciscans at Mt. Alvernia, all of Wappingers Falls. He also played hard at many sports including trout fishing, skiing, bowling, tennis, croquet and golf. Over the years, he won several medals at the New York State Senior Games and had the exhilarating golf experience of 3 holes-in-one. Walter is predeceased by his first wife, Patricia Shannon, who passed in 1973. He is survived by their two children, Kathleen Francese Martin of Syracuse and Maureen Vergili Hoecker of Portland, Oregon. Mr. Kay remarried and is survived by his wife Andree Tucciarone (Sullivan) and her family Heather Sullivan Halama and Joseph Sullivan. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Tamara Vergili Sullenger, Michael Virgili, Dakota Martin and Latham Sullivan; and one great-grandchild, Gavin Sullenger who completes their family. Family will receive their friends on Sunday, September 25 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Route 9 in Valatie, NY. A second day of calling hours will be held Monday, September 26 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Straub Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, September 27 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Clinton Street in Wappingers Falls. For directions to Straub Funeral Home or to send the family a condolence, please visit our website, www.straubfuneralhome.com.