James Louis "Jim" Kurowski

February 17, 1940 – January 28, 2019

James "Jim" Louis Kurowski passed away peacefully at his home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, surrounded by is family.

Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, on February 17, 1940, Jim was the son of Ted and Helen Kurowski. His family moved to Nebraska in 1948 where Jim graduated from Saint Patrick's Catholic High School in Fremont and excelled in athletics. After graduating from Creighton University Medical School, he enlisted in the Public Health Service. He then completed the Masters of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and was a director of Eastside Health Center in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver. In 1981, Jim was appointed by Mayor Bill McNichols as head of Denver Health and Hospitals. He also taught Health Policy at the University of Colorado.

Jim married Dianne Stoyko of Winnipeg, Canada, in 1987. After retirement from public health positions in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1999, the family moved to Steamboat Springs. For 14 years, Jim relished working at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. He loved Dianne's superb cooking, reading, watching football (especially his grandsons), amateur acting and being a father and grandfather.

Jim will be lovingly remembered as a deeply principled husband, father, grandfather and friend, who dedicated his life to his children and community. He is survived by his wife, Dianne, his children Lisa (Rob Chirico) and Thad (Katy Neusteter) of Denver, Cody and Hanna Kurowski of Steamboat Springs, his four grandchildren (Jakob, Tye and Brayden Chirico and Brule Kurowski) all of Denver, and his sister Gloria (Lanny Schmid) of Fremont. Jim was previously married to Bettina Tabak, mother of Lisa and Thad.

A memorial service will be held in June. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to the Bud Werner Memorial Library in Steamboat Springs or the Carcinoid Foundation.