Donna Kowaleski's Obituary
Donna Mae Barnes Kowaleski, 86, of Killeen, Texas passed away peacefully on the morning of May 14, 2019 in Harker Heights, Texas.Donna was born on July 15, 1932 in Hancock, Wisconsin. She was the middle child of the 12 children born to Mildred Josephine Moors Barnes and Ivan Alvin Barnes. Donna graduated from Tri-County High School in 1950 , and from there went on to become a LVN after attending nursing school in Milwaukee.On May 17, 1952, Donna married the love of her life, Casimir “Casey” Kowaleski , at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Heffron, Wisconsin. Casey was in the Air Force and was deployed to Korea during the Korean War. He left her right after their honeymoon. Upon his return, they made their first home in South Carolina. From there they moved to Rantoul, Illinois where their daughter Barbara and son Charles were born . Soon the Air Force moved them once again. This time to Des Moines, Iowa where son David was born. Being close to family in Wisconsin allowed them to have regular visits there. It was important to them both to share their deep love of family with their children and let them spend time at their grandparents dairy farm. What a fun time it was for their children. Their next duty station was England . For three years they enjoyed a wonderful life filled with family time exploring the British country side . The time they spent there was one they would both cherish for the rest of their lives. Casey left the Air Force and they moved to Oshkosh , Wisconsin for a short time. He missed the military life and once again the travels began after he went into the Army. It took them to Kentucky , Massachussetts, and finally to Texas. Donna began working at the Post Nursery at Ft. Hood and would be the facility’s nurse as well as the supervisor in the baby room.Donna was the best mother a child could ask for as she loved to give the three of us her time and encouragement all through our lives. She also shared her deep faith in God which will guide us through this time of loss until we are reunited as a family once again in heaven. For may years Donna was a faithful member of the Ladies of Charity . She was very committed to working in her church’s thrift store as she saw how many lives could be touched by their efforts throughout her community. She worked at least one day a week into her 80s and her health made her stop. She truly lived her faith daily and her children were blessed by her example.Her granddaughters Donna and Julie will continue to cherish the time they spent with her enjoying her cooking and the special cookies she would make just for them when they visited and later at Christmas each year. But most of all they will miss her love and encouragement . Her great grandson Austin was proud to be able to have her able to see his children and meet his wife .Losing her husband was extremely difficult for Donna as they were married 65 years. We are now taking comfort that they are reunited in heaven and that makes losing her a little easier. We will miss her deep love of family as we always knew she would be there for each of us in the good times as well as the bad. Now it is time for all of us to take her deep faith in God and use it as a source of comfort until we can all be reunited again.Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Fred, Clarence, Harold, Frank, Arthur, Charles, and her sister Maribel. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Payne and her husband Donnie of McKinney, Texas, son, Charles Kowaleski and his wife Karen of Salado, Texas, and son David Kowaleski of Killeen, Texas. Her granddaughters Donna Latham and husband Bobby of McKinney, Texas and Julie Payne and her fiancee Chad Alden of Van Alstyne, Texas. Her great grandson Austin Payne and wife Jordan of McKinney, Texas and her great great grandchildren Chase, Aimslee, and Memphis Payne of McKinney, Texas. Also her brothers Robert Barnes of Coloma, Wisconsin and Harry Barnes of Hancock, Wisconsin and sisters Lucille Vezina of Hancock, Wisconsin and Clara Bogard of Hancock , Wisconsin and many nieces and nephews .Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Saint Paul Chong Hasang Catholic Church in Harker Heights, Texas. The Very Reverend Richard O’ Rourke will officiate at her requiem mass. Burial will be at a later date in Hancock City Cemetery in Hancock, Wisconsin.Arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home of Dallas
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