Mary Louise Kowalski

Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Louise will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022at 8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial to follow in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Devils Lake.  Please join the family for fellowship and to continue the celebration of Mary Louise's life at the Liquid Bean at 10:30 a.m.  

Mary Louise Kowalski

Mary Louise Kowalski was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She died peacefully on March, 20 2022 on her 92nd birthday.

Mary Louise was born March 20, 1930 in Potosi, Wisconsin. She left home to pursue her nursing certificate in Chicago, where she met her husband, John Kowalski. Together they moved to Cedar Rapids Iowa, then Santiago, Chile, before settling in Devils Lake in November 1960; just in time for her first of 61 North Dakota winters. 

At 4’10” (not including her signature hair style) she was a force to be reckoned.  Together she and her husband John operated Majestic Cleaners for almost 20 years.  In the 1970’s she added her own touch opening Mary Lou’s Fabrics.  In 1979 Mary Louise returned to nursing as the Ramsey County Health Nurse, inoculating almost everyone in the county during her 20+ years of service. In the 1980s, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Nursing from Minot State University and joined the non-profit, American Association of University Women. She spent the final years of her career teaching nursing at Lake Region State College.

As an active member of the Devils Lake Community, Mary Louise attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and socialized regularly with friends for bridge or Shakespeare Club. She was an avid baker with a well-known sweet tooth, and was always quick to supply treats for family and friends.

Mary Louise was predeceased by her husband John Kowalski and her daughter Rachel (David) Roen. She is survived by her daughters Mary Ellen (Barry) Wilkie and Jennifer (Mark) Hopkins, and her grandchildren Jessica Ogletree, Alec Wilkie, Kate Hopkins, Maren Hopkins, Madeleine Roen, and Wilson Roen.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many members of the community that surrounded Mary Louise and helped her maintain her independence.   We are grateful for the staff and volunteers at Senior Meals and Senior Transportation, the garbage and recycling team who would bring out her garbage when she could not, for the team at Lakeview Dairy who would bring groceries into her house for her, the caregivers at the pharmacy, clinic and hospital.   Lastly, a special thank you to Rose and Gary Wilhelmi who provided her with loving care and companionship.  

Per Mary Louise’s wishes, there will not be a funeral service.  There will be a small gathering of friends and family to celebrate her wonderful life in early summer.