Richard Kowalzcyk
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Richard (Rich) Kowalzcyk passed on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. He was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, on February 16, 1963, the son of Henry (deceased) and Nancy Kowalczyk. Raised in Southington, CT, he was editor of the high school newspaper and played clarinet for the concert and marching bands. After attending Boston University, he embarked on a career in financial services.
He married Barbara Johnston, on May 23, 1992. They have three children: Jonathan of Topeka, KS, Jewel Ann and Jonah of Bartlesville, that remained the center of his world. He is also survived by his mother Nancy of Bartlesville, a sister, Suzanne, and a nephew, Vincent.
After relocation to Bartlesville in 1992, Richard joined Bartlesville Southern Baptist Church where he served as the Associate Pastor, was a deacon, and taught Sunday School. He went to Venezuela and Malawi, Africa on mission trips. On his second trip to Malawi, he accepted a calling to ministry and then served as pastor of the Osage Indian Baptist Church in Pawhuska, OK from 2006 to 2011.
He returned to secular work for Conoco Phillips from 2012 to 2014. He later was Assistant General Manager at Tallgrass Estates, where he cherished friendships he built with residents. He survived both heart disease and prostate cancer. He was blessed by his companion emotional assistant dog, Sophie.
Richard was active in municipal, civic, and youth activities, serving on numerous boards, and coaching many of his children's athletic teams. He was an avid fisherman, skilled carpenter and woodworker, and enjoyed astronomy and genealogy. He shared the last year of his life with Kathy Abeyta and saw each other though many trials.
A memorial service was held September 20, at the Bartlesville Southern Baptist Church.