John Martin Kowalski

Age 79, passed away Wednesday, August 8, 2012. He was born in Kolin, Czechoslovakia on March 21, 1933, to Jan Kowalski and Libuse Zednikova. He immediately moved to Zamberk, Czechoslovakia until 1946. John spent his high school/gymnasium years in Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia from 1946 to 1952. He served mandatory Military Service in the Czechoslovakian Infantry unit as an officer from 1952 to 1954. John entered Charles IV University in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1954 and graduated with a Masters in Civil/Structural Engineering in 1960. He continued to live there until 1968. John left the communist regime in 1968 and fled to Nuremberg, Germany while he waited for permission to come to the United States. He arrived in New York City on December 19, 1969. Between 1969 and 1986 John made several different professional stops in Algeria, Iran, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the Philippines working on engineering projects. John met the former Hiroko Suzuki of Tokyo, Japan and married her on August 1, 1979. They had two sons John in 1980 and David in 1983.The family moved to Carlsbad, NM in 1986 when he took a position at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). John retired in 2007 and moved to Albuquerque, NM. John enjoyed tennis, ice hockey, soccer, cycling, running, skiing, jazz guitar and chess. He was preceded in death by his parents Father Jan Kowalski Mother Libuse Zednikova of Czechoslovakia. John is survived by his loving wife of 33 years Hiroko Kowalski of Albuquerque, NM; son John Kowalski Jr. of Albuquerque, NM; son David Kowalski of Albuquerque, NM; sister Regine Gifford of Paris, France; nephew Patrick Gifford of Hong Kong; daughter-in-law Holly Kowalski of Albuquerque, NM and cousin Dr. Emil Kowalski of Switzerland. A private family service has taken place. Daniels Family Funeral Services
1100 Coal Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-842-8800