Edmund John Kowalski Jr.

Edmund John Kowalski, Jr, age 74, of High Ridge, MO, died peacefully on Tuesday evening, March 26, 2024, at Fieser Nursing Home, Fenton, MO. Ed was born in Natrona, PA, and attended a seminary in Cassadaga, NY, for part of high school, where he learned the usual curriculum, plus various skills like electrical work, auto mechanics, etc. The school was merged with one in Worcester, MA, where he graduated in the top 10%, along with the rest of the Cassadaga students. Ed graduated from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, with a degree in philosophy. While attending Duquesne, he met and married Joyce, and began painting more seriously. After graduation, they took a road trip towards Colorado, but when their car broke down near St. Louis, after visiting Joyce's brother, they decided to start a life there, and Ed pursued art (painting and photography) full-time. Ed was one of the longest running members (and one of the assistant directors) of the Queeny Park Art Fair, along with several other Art Associations, including St. Louis County Art Association (instrumental in its inception in the 1980's and serving as president for one year). Ed has belonged and participated in the Argus Camera Collectors Group (ACG), which is the largest Internet group dedicated to the collection and restoration of Argus cameras as well as the study of the Argus company's history. Ed could jury-rig most any camera placed before him and recognize their source and history. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edmund John Kowalski, Sr, and Marietta Stephanie Viriginia Napiecek, his sister, Teresa (Teri) Susan Kowalski, his brother-in-law, Sherman Watkins, and his brother & sister-in-law, John and Nancy Cross. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Louise Cross Kowalski, his son, Walter Casimir Kowalski, his daughter, Pamela Lee Kowalski, and two sisters: Marietta (Aya) Kowalski Watkins and Janice Lynn Kowalski Rawe, as well as sibling-in-laws: Mark (Hong) Cross, Chris (Pat) Cross, and Faith Cross. Interment will be at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Tarentum, PA. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.