JAMES KOWALSKI

Jim was born Oct. 12, 1943, in Alpena, Mich., to Chet and Florence Kowalski, the fifth of six children. He died at his home in Corona Del Mar, Calif., on Oct. 17, 2017, after a number of months of poor health. Jim moved to California in the ’70s and continued to make California his home for all of these years. He was a guidance counselor and lecturer at Orange Coast College until his retirement. Jim loved coming home frequently. The family gatherings on the 4th of July were especially important to him as well as the fall of the year when the leaves were in full color. Jim will be greatly missed for his wonderful sense of humor and his generous spirit. He is survived by his wife Lucille “Thao;” daughter Kelli (Tom) Erspamer; daughter-in-law Sheri Kowalski; grandchildren, Natalie Lebeda, and Hailey and Brandon Kowalski; two sisters, Dolores (Jack) Corcoran, Linda (Randy) Bicksler; and three brothers, Bob (Dorothy) Kowalski, Jack (Julie) Kowalski, Gerry Kowalski; and Judy Kowalski, the mother of his children; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Florence Kowalski, his son James, nephew Sean Corcoran and niece Stacy Bicksler Heath. There will be a memorial service in Michigan at a later date.