Linda Anne Kowalski

Jul 15, 1947 - Jul 29, 2026

Linda Anne Kowalski, 79, beloved wife, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and cousin, passed away peacefully at home on July 29, 2026 after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1947 to Anne and Harry Kowalski, Linda was the second oldest in a family of seven children. From an early age she exhibited a strong personality which combined laughter, mischief and an extraordinary ability to get things done. Later in life, she was affectionately dubbed "Mother Superior," as she considered all of her siblings and their children as part of her own brood. She took charge and always generated humor along with initiative. A favored aunt for her infectious laugh, she had a remarkable ability to bring people together.

Linda attended Washington High School in South Bend, where she excelled in her studies and athletics. She pursued an accounting degree at DePaul University and was proud to have passed her CPA exam on the first attempt. She spent the bulk of her career as a CPA and Legal Administrator at Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton and Taylor in Chicago, where she met her spouse, Kathy ("Kat") Thompson. She finished her professional life at Langer & Langer in Valparaiso. Her facility with numbers was legendary, and she served as tax consultant to her entire extended family. Even in the hospital, Linda insisted on regular and precise calculations.

Linda had a wealth of interests and aptitudes. She was an avid collector of antiques and a connoisseur of flea markets, especially Brimfield. Her favorite collections were telephones, Studebaker memorabilia, vintage rulers, and miniatures of a wide variety. She crafted more than a dozen shadow boxes of different intricate scenes such as the law office, the music room, and the cabin. Linda loved hiking and camping. She was famous for her unexpected encounters with wildlife, including a meeting with a mother grizzly bear and her three cubs in Denali National Park, and a chase by otters in Lake Kennebago in Rangeley, Maine. Endless summer weekends were spent at the Kowalski family cottage on Sister's Lake in Michigan. She was known for renting cabins in the summer for use by the whole family in places like Irons, Michigan. Linda enjoyed canoeing and kayaking and relished her trips to the Boundary Waters and to Rangeley, Maine. Beyond her camping and backpacking trips to places like Yellowstone and the Sawtooth Mountains, Linda loved to travel abroad. Among other destinations, she spent her honeymoon in Italy, and also relished her visits to Ireland, England, Germany and Mexico with other family members.

A gifted musician, Linda mastered the accordion, piano, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, violin and banjo; she even played the drums. The banjo was her favorite instrument, and she was an accomplished player, often collaborating in song with other family members.

Linda was beloved for her generosity of spirit by both the Kowalski and Thompson families. She will be remembered for her fierce intellectual curiosity, her good humor and her incredible work ethic. Much of this doggedness was made visible in the welcoming rural property she nurtured and maintained along with her spouse and named "Katalak Lodge."

Linda is survived by her spouse Kathy, with whom she spent 33 loving and adventurous years. Linda's surviving siblings include Jim Kowalski, Tom Kowalski (and wife Kathy), Mike Kowalski, Karen Kazmierzak (and husband Michael), Marilyn Spalla (and companion Louis Spalla), and Jeanne Stevenson (and husband David). She had 22 adored and adoring nieces and nephews, as well as an extended list of grand-nieces and nephews whose visits to Katalak Lodge were an exuberant highlight to Linda's life.

The family thanks all those whose loving care helped Linda throughout her illness. A celebration of life will be held on August 29, 2026 at Katalak Lodge. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Helping Hand (helpinghand-il.org) in Linda's memory. Moeller Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.

Source: Legacy.com

08/05/2026 EJS

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nwitimes/name/linda-kowalski-obituary?id=62098308