John Fred Kowal

JOHN "JOHNNY" FRED KOWAL OBITUARY NOTICE-CELEBRATION OF LIFE
It is with great sadness & heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing from a tragic accident of John F. Kowal, on March 9, 2023.

A celebration of Johns life will be held in his honor in two places, and his memory will be forever cherished. One celebration of life is planned at the home John & Mischelle shared, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm.
A second Celebration of Life Ceremony is planned for John in Vancouver, B.C. on June 24, 2023 - Place - Admiral Pub & Grill, Address: 4125 Hastings Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 2J3, Time: 1-4 PM.
The resting place of his ashes will be in two places, the Umpqua river, where Johnny liked to go for drives, and also in Canada, at a later date. Johnny was an active and celebratory participant in the dash of life. He made that dash between the years mean so much more than a journey, a duty, or even a destiny. He gave that dash, he gave it his all.

John Kowal was born on May 26, 1955, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He moved out west and spent the majority of his life on the west coast. He was a man of many talents & passions, including singing, dancing, playing music, a martial arts student and tournament participant, plus the many other venues he enjoyed. When he wasn't working on a pet project, he was outdoors, riding motorcycles, practicing his golf game, fishing and boating for relaxation. He especially loved being a world traveler. John is well known for making movie magic happen with his unparalleled ability to bring a set to life with his carpentry. John had a successful career in the movie industry as a set carpenter in the construction department, and as a Red Seal carpenter. He worked on many notable feature films, Movie's of The Week, and various television series. He was highly respected in his field.

John is survived by his loving wife, Mischelle, his brother Paul, sisters Mary, Zena Putnam and her daughters Stef and Shannon. Nieces, Michelle, Stephanie, Heather, Baylie, Celeste, Katelyn, Addie, Dixie, Brittany, Summer, nephews: Nate, Nick, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Jacob, Stephen, Brother and sister-in-law Reggie, and Carol, and many cousins plus a lifetime of friends and union brothers.
John is remembered as a beloved husband, son, brother, and uncle, friend, mentor, and artist. But he was also, an avid reader, adrenaline junkie with over 400 skydives to tell stories about, lifetime learner, pet lover, trusted mentor, loyal friend, business owner, health nut, sports enthusiast, hockey fan, guitarist, gifted and talented craftsman and tradesman, movie set magician for the land of make-believe, hockey fan, and a compassionate and loving soul.

In addition to his love for the arts, John's love for adventure led him to travel the world and experience different cultures. He was passionate about cooking, skydiving, and his trade. He owned and operated a restaurant in Thailand which he spoke of many times. His love of cooking lent itself to a tendency of filling the cabinets with spices, sauces, and the freezer with special cuts of meat. He would meticulously review and carefully choose each item at the grocery store, or the meat market. He sought local farmers for the freshest produce and best cuts. He often said that, "Cooking must be, and should be, done with love." His attention to detail and culinary expertise made for many mouth watering dishes!

John was known for his infectious sense of humor and kindness, which touched the lives of every single person who was lucky enough to meet him. He always had a joke or funny story to share and could lighten up any room with his smiling laughter. He was a loyal friend and mentor to many, always willing to lend a helping hand or a listening ear. John's playful and silly nature will always be remembered by those who knew him. He had a heart full of love and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. You changed our world and nothing will ever be the same. We will miss you and love you for our lifetime.

He spoke Ukrainian to his mother every Sunday with a phone call, while she lived. He never missed that call. The language is so beautiful, that anyone listening would enjoy the conversation-Whether they understood it or not. It was a symphony of laughter and stories told and retold many times on every Sunday.

Although John was baptized a Catholic, in the year of his birth in July, he did not practice Catholicism in his later years. The parents of Hanya Zacharko-MacKay, John and Helen, were John's God Parents. Johnny had a preference for the spiritual essence of worship. He chose to follow a spiritual leader in India, named, Amma. His faith took him on a journey to see her for a month one year. He came back rejuvenated and said he felt closer to her than any other experience he'd had with organized religion. He stayed close to her by attending her celebrations when she came to the state of Oregon, Washington, or California. He was less enthused with going to church once a week than he was with doing good once a week. He said he, "felt closer to God helping people rather than standing in a building."
He shared his thoughts on good deeds with his wife, Mischelle, by telling her this, . . . " Some people mistake kindness for stupidity." He only said that once, but she remembered it throughout all their life together.

Fate brought us together, choice made us friends, but love kept us together forever till the end. I love you. You are the beat of my heart, the champion to our family, and the man of my dreams.