On July 18, 2024, Joseph Richard Kowalick, age 93, of Bristol, PA, after a brief illness, passed away peacefully with family by his side. As of July 17, 2024, for 70 years he was the beloved husband of Marie (nee: McDonald) Kowalick.
Born on July 18, 1931 in Shenandoah PA, he was the son of the late Ladislaus and Ana Kowalick and the first grandchild of the late Mary and Pawel Kowalick, whom had 17 children. Growing up in the coal region near his grandparents he had many close relatives, especially his late Uncle Paul, who he considered a brother. He was predeceased by his only sister, Joann (nee: Kowalick) Fahnstock and a granddaughter Kelcey Lynn.
Private Joseph Kowalick (Joe) served in the US Air Force after Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. He was stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Chandler, MN and served a full term. Joe would quickly state, from memory, that his Honorable Discharge with a Good Conduct Medal came after “3 years, 2 months and 13 days”. Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus – Council 4215 in Levittown.
Lovingly known as Pop Pop, his family was his world, especially “The Girl Sitting on the Wall”, his wife Marie. He constantly sang songs to her as a tribute to the day she first saw him singing in his JW Cooper High School play. They married in Lost Creek, PA on July 17, 1954. They settled in Levittown, PA and raised 8 children: Joseph Kowalick, Bensalem PA, Richard Kowalick (Donna), Sterling VA, Anne Marie Ellison (James), Dunnellon, FL, Rosemarie Rainsford (Glen), Levittown, PA, Robert Kowalick (Donna), Morrisville, PA, Patrick Kowalick (Kelly), Croydon, PA, Susan Kowalick, Bristol, PA, and Kathleen Filzen (Chris), Carrollton, GA.
He retired after 32 years at the US Steel Fairless Works. A very hard and dedicated shift worker, he still somehow attended many of his children’s games, activities, birthday parties and graduations. He was just as dedicated to his 21 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren (with 2 more on the way). As Pop Pop he attended many of their activities as well, whether a baseball game, a football game, or a dance show. Joe was an avid Penn State fan, attending games for over 30 years. Joe enjoyed watching the Phillies’ broadcasts with Marie (Mom Mom) and went to many Irish Weekends in Wildwood, NJ. Joe also enjoyed many annual St. Patrick Day parades in Girardville, PA with Paul and Trish Kowalick and many other relatives.
Marie was the epicenter of his life. Especially over the last few years, he would rub noses with her and cajole almost daily, “Marie, do you love me? What’s the word?” wherein she tenderly replied, “Always.” In his final days at the hospital, family had a chance to sing Happy Anniversary to Joe and Marie. Their special love transcended all. Family and nurses sang Happy Birthday to Joe at midnight, at his bedside, on his last day on earth.
A devout Catholic who never missed Mass, he was a member of the former Immaculate Conception BVM Church, then a member of Queen of the Universe Parish, both in Levittown, PA. Uncle Pat Kowalick, the last of his grandparents’ 17 children, passed a few days prior and is awaiting the first grandchild, Joseph, in heaven.
A viewing for Joseph will be held Monday, July 29, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown, Pennsylvania 19056.
A secondary viewing will occur Tuesday, July 30, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Queen of the Universe, 2443 Trenton Road, Levittown, Pennsylvania 19056 with a mass of christian burial at 12:00 PM.
Burial will follow at 2:00 PM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940.
