Donald Lewis Kottlowski, age 84, of New Palestine, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at Golden Living/Brandywine Health Care, Greenfield.
The son of Charles F. and Carolina (Spear) Kottlowski, Don was born on Nov. 16, 1927, in New Palestine, Ind. After graduating from New Palestine High School in 1945, Don served in the U. S. Army Air Corps from Feb. 12, 1946 to Feb. 11, 1949, as a radar operator and instructor at Harmon Field, Newfoundland, Canada. There he met his wife Mary Rita MacIsaac, a Newfoundland native, when she was working at the Air Base where he was assigned. They were married in a Catholic Church in Massachusetts in 1949 on the way home to New Palestine, Ind.
After returning home from service, Don completed agricultural course work from Purdue University. He operated a farm and a custom ag-lime, fertilizer and herbicide agribusiness, Kottlowski Spreading Service, serving local farmers in Hancock and surrounding counties for several years. In the mid 1970's he formed a local aggregate supply business, Kottlowski Stone, Inc. serving local home builders. He operated that until shortly after his wife Rita passed away in June 1998. They enjoyed 49 years of marriage.
Don was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Greenfield for nearly 58 years. He also was a long standing member of the New Palestine Lions Club and was named a Melvin Jones Fellow, one of the highest awards given by Lions International. In 1968, he was elected a Hancock County Commissioner and served in that capacity for the next eight years. Later he served on the Hancock County Sheriff's Merit Board, and for two decades he served as a volunteer and member of the Board of Trustees for Hancock Memorial Hospital.
Don married Helen M. (Logan/Eastes) Kottlowski on Nov. 27, 1999, who survives him. Helen provided excellent nursing care during Don’s years of illness for which the family is grateful.
Visitation will be held at Hendryx Mortuary, New Palestine Chapel – 19 E. Main St., from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Rev. Msgr. William F. Stumpf will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at St. Michael's Catholic Church – 519 Jefferson Blvd., Greenfield. Burial will follow at New Palestine Cemetery.
In addition to his wife, Don is survived by sons, Donald W. (Rosemarie) Kottlowski of New Palestine, Daniel G. (Karen) Kottlowski of State College, Pa., Randy K. (Charlene) Kottlowski of Houston, Texas, and Roger M. (Michele) Kottlowski of Fishers, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren. This also includes two step-daughters, Teri Gunst (Eastes), and Janice Eastes; and 2 step-grandchildren.
Besides his parents and previous wife, Rita, Don was preceded in death by his brothers, Walter, Erwin and Charles Kottlowski; and his sisters, Gertrude Fisher (Kottlowski) and Mildred Dost (Kottlowski).
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, the National Parkinson Federation http://www.parkinson.org/ and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America http://www.alzfdn.org.
