OBITUARY FROM REES FUNERAL HOME WEBSITE:
Kenneth (Ken) Francis Karwowski, beloved father, son, brother and dear friend, passed away on July 11th, 2023, at the age of 61. Ken was a man of many passions and touched the lives of countless people throughout his lifetime - especially his three daughters, Anna, Kate, and Claire. Ken was the proud son of Louise (Klotz) Karwowski and Remigius Karwowski; brother of Philip (Marjorie) Karwowski, Marilyn Karwowski (Rodd Zimmerle) and Jerome Karwowski; Uncle Kenny to numerous nieces and nephews; and longtime friend of many.
Above all, Ken was a family man - his three daughters meant more to him than anything else in the world and he was unendingly proud of them and their accomplishments. He cherished his relationship with his mother, Louise, and we find great peace knowing that he will be welcomed with open arms at the gates of Heaven by his father, Reggie.
Ken was a simple man but so very full of life - he was wise beyond his years, kind, witty, thoughtful, and had a gift of making everyone feel like family. He showed genuine appreciation for the little things, and was always willing to lend a listening ear and offer advice, especially to his buddies back home. He never turned down a conversation, no matter how small or insignificant - to Ken there were no strangers in the world, only friends he had not met yet. He lived for the little moments just as much as the big - he lit up at birthdays and graduations, new jobs and big moves, but he wanted to hear everything - did you catch any live music lately? What’s on for the weekend? Where are you watching the ND game? And he celebrated it all.
Being father to three girls was no easy task, but Ken was certainly up for the challenge. He took great pride in raising his girls just outside of Chicago in Western Springs, IL, where the family resided for over 20 years. While Ken was proud of his professional career, his greatest joy was spending time with his girls (whom he often joked were his “boys”). He’d rally them for a joy ride in his beloved Porsche, squeezed in between his golf clubs, always ready to persuade them with Oberweis ice cream in exchange for a quick stop at the driving range. Weekends were filled with bike rides through the forest preserve, trips to the library, and countless hours at the tennis courts in hopes one of the girls shared his great skill.
Ken's first love was music and, in particular, the guitar. During their formative years, Ken made sure the girls were introduced to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, and The Grateful Dead, but make no mistake, he was the first to come home after work and line up to play ‘dollies’ or visit the girls basement beauty salon. He always spent just a bit of extra time learning how to play their favorite tunes, like “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd or John Mayer’s “Why Georgia.”
Ken referred to music as the universal language, and could often be found strumming his favorite songs. Among them, "Stairway to Heaven" held a special place in his heart. Ken could pick up the guitar and play nearly anything by ear, or honestly just turn his own words into a song. He was always a hoot at Karwowski family holidays, singing lullabies about perogies and impressing the kids with his guitar hero skills. He shared his music love with others as well, playing in musicals at the Indiana Dunes Summer Theater, including ‘Tommy’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ Ken took great pride in taking his girls to their first ever ‘Lollapalooza’ and never let them forget it (they thanked him by attending for the next 10 years straight). Conversations and text messages from Ken often included song recommendations and favorite lyrics, and he always wanted you to share yours, too.
Ken was happiest near the beach and by the water - from a young age, the Indiana Dunes held a special place in his heart. As a lifeguard through his teen and college years, he built quite the network on the beach. He brought his family to share this space, spending many summer days chasing the girls up and down the sand. His love extended far beyond the Dunes; ‘sunny Southern California’ was one of Ken’s favorite places to escape, and his later years introduced a newfound love for international travel. He explored the likes of South America, Europe, and Australia, and found great joy in sharing these experiences with his daughters and friends. He embarked on many memorable trips with cousins Terry, Steve, and ‘the crew,’ and always had a keen eye for a good deal, most notably his $7 filet mignon at Cafe Havana in Panama.
Professionally, Ken was a highly accomplished individual - he was wicked smart but admirably humble. Ken studied the markets like sheet music - earning himself the nickname ‘Kenny Coin’ from his Hobart friends. With over 30 years of experience in the investment industry wearing multiple hats, the majority of his time was spent at PNC Capital Advisors, Henderson Global Investors and Scudder Kemper Investments/Deutsche Bank. Ken was loved and admired by his coworkers, many of whom became lifelong friends, noting that his positive energy was contagious. Ken was a CFA charterholder and a member of the Investment Analysts Society of Chicago. His expertise was highly respected. Ken admired the likes of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, frequently sharing their wisdom and advice with his daughters. He loved to explore new ideas and sent articles that inspired him, "The Munger Operating System: How to Live a Life That Really Works" and "Top Wharton Professor Adam Grant: How You Can Find Meaning in Your Work Life." The message was always simple - in the grand scheme of things, do what makes you most happy in life.
Religion played an essential role in Ken's life; his strong Catholic faith influenced how he lived, and conversations often included sharing meaningful homilies from mass. He actively participated in many parishes including St. Bridgets, St. John of the Cross, Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph Parish, always generously donating to causes close to his heart.
A creature of habit, Ken always enjoyed a nice cigar or a long day on the golf course - if you get a chance to play at Butler or Riviera, please think of him - those were his favorites. Ken would say his favorite sport was ‘college hoops’ and he was so proud to be a part of the legendary Bobby Knight days at Indiana University (go Hoosiers!) - but you could always catch him sporting the gear of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or Miami University Redhawks (thanks to Anna, Kate & Claire). He genuinely looked forward to helping the girls craft their March Madness brackets and has a few 1st place wins under his belt. An athlete himself, his mother recalls him winning the punt pass & kick contest at 11 years old (technically he got 2nd, but he was beaten by an older kid, so in his mind he got first).
Ken followed his dream and made his way out West in 2020, moving to Scottsdale, AZ, where he could often be found enjoying the warm weather while taking in live music - Old Town Tavern and the Rusty Spur were among his favorite spots. His knack for finding deals continued, and when the girls visited he always had a happy hour spot lined up, right after taking in the sunset. The girls have fond memories of their AZ visits - from group trips to explore Sedona to hitting balls at Top Golf. Despite being farther away, Ken always found time for weekly phone calls with those closest to him - his daughters, his mom, and plenty of family, friends, and old colleagues.
The girls recall ‘no one could make our dad laugh better than himself.’ When he told stories, he often couldn’t get through them without laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe, and that laugh was contagious, even if you had no idea where his story was going. Sometimes you’d look at him and he’d be sitting in his reading chair, laughing, and you wouldn’t even know at what. He was often found saying “everyone’s different, that’s what makes the world go ‘round” - and boy, did he believe it. He lived life the way he wanted, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
Ken's family will always remember the outpouring amount of love and support he showed them, ensuring they had the best opportunities in life. He leaves behind a legacy of love, passion, and dedication to his family, friends, and career. Ken will be so deeply missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know him, but his memory will forever live on in the hearts of those he touched.
Memorial visitation for Kenneth will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 8:30am until 10:30am at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, 600 West Old Ridge Road, Hobart IN. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Bridget Catholic Church at 11:00 am with prayers starting at the funeral home at 10:30 am. For more information, please call (219) 942-2109. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.
This information and picture were obtained from: https://www.reesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/kenneth-karwowski.