Jerome A. “Jerry” “Tiny” Kowalski, 76, Stevens Point, one of the few remaining veterans in the area to regularly sound taps at veterans’ funerals, died Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, at Ministry St. Michael’s Hospital.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Pisarski Funeral Home in Stevens Point, with Deacon Vern Linzmeier officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the St. Casimir Cemetery in the town of Hull.

Visitation will be at the funeral home from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, and again from 9:30 a.m. Wednesday until the service. American Legion Post 6 will perform a ritual at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered online at www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.

Mr. Kowalski was born April 6, 1940, in Stevens Point, a son
of the late Frank and Delphine (Pliska) Kowalski of Bukolt Park. He attended
St. Peter Grade School and was a 1959 graduate of P.J. Jacobs High School.

He entered the Army National Guard Oct. 15, 1961, in Stevens
Point, and was called to active duty Aug. 10, 1962, where he served with the
120th Artillery Battalion with the 32nd Infantry. He was honorably discharged
Aug. 7, 1963, at Fort Lewis, Wash.

He was married to Beverly Meronek April 15, 1961, at St.
Peter Catholic Church.

The couple then settled in Stevens Point.

He worked at Copps Distributing for many years, retiring in
2006.

He played the trumpet in several polka bands most of his
life, with the Ray Shuda Band, Jolly Harmony Kings and the Golden Aces.

He regularly sounded taps at funerals of the American Legion
Post 6, Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 185, 40 et 8 and the Stevens
Point Moose Lodge. He received the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award from the
Daughters of the American Revolution for 2012-13.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly; one son, Jeremy (Sandi)
Kowalski, Stevens Point; one daughter, Jennifer Pawelski, Waupaca; one brother,
Robert (Mary Ann) Kowalski, Stevens Point; one sister, Laverne (Willie)
Trzebiatowski, Amherst; one sister-in-law, Kathy Kowalski, Stevens Point; and
five grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by one son, Kenneth; three
brothers, Arthur, Eldred and Frank; and one son-in-law, Allan Pawelski.