Marie Therese Kowalke

Marie Therese Roszczewski Davidson Kowalke, age 96, lived long enough to have three last names. She was born October 5, 1928 in Romeo, and passed away peacefully on November 3, 2024 at her home in Romeo.

Marie’s parents immigrated to Michigan from Poland/Lithuania to escape the mandatory draft into the Russian Czar’s Army. They bought a beautiful farm in Romeo and named it Pleasant View. They raised dairy cows and nine children there. The farm is now the Ford Proving Grounds. The Roszczewskis were one of the founding families of St. Clement of Rome Church in Romeo.

Marie graduated from Romeo High School and then received a teaching degree from Marygrove College in 1951. She was a proud and dedicated teacher her whole working career, 30 of those years in Romeo. She loved teaching and loved running into her past students.

Marie married Phil Davidson and had three children. She became a widow and single mother for many years, until she met a widower with five children and fell in love. Fred and Marie Kowalke married almost 50 years ago on January 31, 1975. They blended their families together (which was a true miracle with so many teens) and continued to raise them together in Romeo.

Marie was fun loving and adventurous. She traveled to many places including Alaska, Hawaii, Spain, Morocco, Jamaica, Thailand, Mexico, Panama and China. She found joy in discovering out of the way towns, new restaurants, hidden treasures. Marie would try anything from white water rafting to hot air balloon riding and cross country train trips in sleeper cars.

She enjoyed nothing more than to have time with her family, extended family, and friends. There were holidays, vacations,polka dances, games, impromptu get togethers, and parties… most notably Pork-a-Paloozas which were pig roast family and friend reunions. She would never turn down the opportunity to play bridge, always belonging to at least one bridge club. Marie was greatly involved in community outreach through her church, including being on the board of directors of Samaritan House.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Benigna (Jagel) Roszczewski, her first husband, Philip Davidson, her siblings, Theodosia, Natalie, Stephanie, Isador, Victor, Gertrude, Vincent, and Stanley, her daughter, Kitty, her honorary daughter Rosalie, and grandsons Shawn and Kevin. She is survived by her husband, Fred Kowalke; her children Fred (Karen) Kowalke, Jay (Mary) Kowalke, Lee (Mark) Stamper, Pam Geiser, Walter (Lisa) Davidson, Kim (Paul) Wagner, Jeffrey (Bridget) Kowalke; her grandchildren Fred (Tara) Kowalke, Sarah Cherry, Jenna (Sean) Corrigan, Mack Stamper, Pam (Trevor) Geiser, Connie (Coleman) Meola, Marie (Isaac) Aguilar, Patty (Brandon) Cordio, Paul Wagner, Peter (Mandie) Wagner, Connor (Taylor) Kowalke, Cameron Kowalke; and 11 great grandchildren.

Marie loved everyone and everyone loved her in return. She often said, “Remember, I love you always and all ways,” and we knew she meant every word.

Donations can be made to: Samaritan House Agape Center IHM Retirement Fund (62324 Van Dyke, Washington, MI 48094)

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024 from 4-8 pm at the Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home in Romeo, MI.

Funeral Service will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024 at St. Clement Catholic Church in Romeo. Mass will begin at 12:30 pm. Burial immediately following at the Romeo Cemetery.