Walter Kowalski

Walter Kowalski (Walt), a long-time Las Cruces resident and business owner, passed away on August 13, 2022.



Walt was born and raised in Connecticut. In his late teens, he joined the US Air Force, developing a passion for electronics and engineering. After his military service, Walt earned a degree in Electrical Engineering and met and married the love of his life for 54 years, Cheryl. Walt and Cheryl had two children, son Walter and daughter Rachel, before moving west and eventually landing in Las Cruces, where he transitioned out of his aerospace engineering job and into his true passion, woodworking. Walt worked as a carpenter before starting his first cabinet business in a one-car wide storage unit - a startup effort that gave birth to a legacy.



Within a few years, Walt's determination, skill, and energy grew his business into what was eventually called W. Kowalski Fine Woodworking. For 40 years, his creativity and ingenuity produced a wide array of custom wood-working products, from novel kitchen cabinets to elaborate constructions. Over the decades, his cabinets, tables, artistry, and automation found their way into homes of all shapes and sizes, schools, prisons, science labs, and military bases. His ability to combine his master engineering skills with creative artistry made his products sought after by many homeowners, builders, and corporate and public agencies, to name a few. Many realtors have boosted their home-for-sale listings by noting those having famous "Kowalski Cabinets."



Walt loved the southwest and took full advantage of its freedom and openness, regularly exploring it with his family first by car, then 4x4 truck, Jeep, many motorcycles, and eventually even soaring above it in his own Cessna plane. Walt's father fostered a deep interest and expertise in repairing and restoring classic cars, which led him to join and eventually lead the local British Car Club chapter. He brought his unique brand of fun and energy to the club, resulting in many happy memories, fantastic cars, and wonderful friends. After a decade of exploring the desert with his son, Walter, on 2-wheel off-road motorcycles, Walt moved on to 4-wheel off-road excitement in his RZR UTV. His natural passion for fun and leadership once again led him to organize and lead many excursions with the local off-road group, Riders of the Green Creosote.



These are but a few facets of the remarkable, unique man that he was. We could go on about his and Cheryl's passion for country dancing, his intellectual capacity to innovate and fix anything, his love of cooking and creative culinary concoctions, his innate ability to commune with animals, and so much more. Perhaps a book is in order!



Walt will always be remembered as a loving and generous Husband, Dad, Brother, and friend to many and as someone always ready to have fun, help others, and live life to its fullest. His dynamic and unique presence will be missed by the many people who knew and loved him.



Walt is survived by his wife Cheryl, daughter Rachel, son Walter (Jennifer), brothers Mark (Annette), Joseph (Jill), Ronald, nephew Brett, and niece Michelle.



Walt loved to camp and flyfish with his daughter, Rachel, in the Lincoln National Forest and Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. Therefore, in lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family requests donations are made to the Mesilla Valley Flyfishers (http://www.mvff.org/) or A Living Tribute (https://www.alivingtribute.org/.) MVFF focuses on conserving, restoring, and educating through flyfishing. A Living Tribute plants trees in support of reforestation efforts (you can specify Lincoln NF as the preferred forest to receive trees.)



A Rosary and Funeral Mass will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Church, starting at 10:00 AM on September 1, 2022. Followed by military honors and burial at Masonic Cemetery. Due to COVID, masks are requested, and there will be no reception.