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Peter Cecil Owczarski
04/01/1940 — 03/23/2006
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Wausau, Wisconsin
Peter Cecil Owczarski
Peter Owczarski was born April 1, 1940, in Rothschild, Wisconsin, and passed into eternal life March 23, 2006. He received his doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1967 and moved to Richland, Washington. He worked for Battelle, Sigma Research, and Science Applications International Corporation until he was disabled in 1997.
Pete had a keen intellect, a passion for life and learning, a pragmatic humility, and a marvelous sense of humor. Petes enthusiasm for any subject that captured his interest was total and contagious. His professional colleagues admired his creative and comprehensive solutions to technical problems. He was a voracious reader of history, science, and religion; a gourmet cook; an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, camp, hike, and climb mountains. He especially enjoyed travel with his family to historic and geographically interesting locations. His early interest in rocketry became a passion for astronomy and delight in fireworks and other ballistics. He was proud of his Polish heritage. His enthusiasm made him a natural teacher; he taught everything from graduate-level mass transport and fluid dynamics to childrens religious classes. All of his interests became teaching moments for his family, as he shared what he was learning with us.
Pete was a man of consummate faith, who took the election of a Polish pope as a sign from God to become active in the church. He served as a Eucharistic minister, parish council member, and religious education teacher. In these last years since he was disabled, he became a man of deep prayer and a vessel of great grace.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, sons Tom, John, and Andrew, brother Thomas, brother-in-law Richard, sisters-in-law Sherri and Rachel, sister Sue, uncle Ed, nephews Walter, Aaron, Adam, Ben, and Jon, and nieces Sarah, Katie, Allison, and Meredith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Cecilia.
A vigil service will be held Friday, March 31, at 7:00 p.m. at Einans. The memorial Mass will be Saturday, April 1, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to Christ the King Church at 1126 Long Ave., Richland WA 99354, for the Angels of Mercy fund or the Bishops Capital Campaign.
Pete had a couple of sayings always close to him. The first was Do not hurry, do not worry, do not take yourself too seriously, and be forever grateful. The second was a quote from St. Augustine: Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee. It has been our privilege and joy to share Petes life, and we know that he is resting in Gods eternal peace.
Betsy and Boys
Working with Peter, a fellow Chemical Engineer, was a pleasure and an honor. I learned much from his broad experience and interests, not only in his technical field, but through his hobbies and ‘adventures’. But, that was not what Pete was all about. He had a passion for life, and that passion became even more vivid when he became a Christian. He was not shy about sharing his clear transformation and was quick to establish and lead a Bible study at work. I can still remember the study we did in the book of Acts–possibly his favorite book since it was a story of a living faith through the work of Holy Spirit. I recall the day he found out he was going to be a father and the excitement was evident by the constant smile on his face during the workday hard to imagine at Battelle!.
I know that many, including our family, prayed for healing for Pete. Rest assured that the prayers have been answered. He is healed completely.
I met Pete shortly after he moved to Richland thru the IMAC”s and was with him on a couple back-pack and climbing trips. One of the climbs was Mt Constance in the Olympics, as I recall. While this climb is not technically difficult, close to the top the climber is separated from the summit by a large steep snow field that has no safe runout if one should fall unchecked. This place is picturequely called the “Terrible Traverse”. The group summited but on the way down, one person fell. He was readily checked-on this particular day the snow being quite soft.
A few years later I believe, Pete attempted to climb the highest peak in the Tatra Mtns in Poland with a guide but was weathered off.
During the Arab oil boycot in the late 70’s Pete and Betsy’s living room was graced with a large log burning wood stove, a response to the energy shortage conditioned by Pete’s Northern Wisconsin farmland origins, I expect.
Pete taught a course at the Graduate Center, “Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engering”. This course was based on his lecture notes from a similar course he took at U of Minn. I believe some of his lectures were directly from his classroom notes so he must have been an exceptionally good note taker.
About his sense of humor, where would you ever find a house with a permanent bilingual Polish/English sign on the front door that said Dom Entroje/Entrope House?
Whenever I saw Pete after his stroke he was unfailingly cheerful and welcoming.
I wish peace for him and for Elizabeth and their sons.
Dear Betsy,
I hope you feel the many loving thoughts that are with you. Remembering you and your family with deepest sympathy.
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Peter. He will always remain one of my favorite people. I will never forget his smile and laugh and playful twinkle in his eyes. I humbly offer my condolences to his family.
Betsy and Family:
Our thoughts are with you at this special time.
Richard and Melvina
Betsy and Boys
Working with Peter, a fellow Chemical Engineer, was a pleasure and an honor. I learned much from his broad experience and interests, not only in his technical field, but through his hobbies and ‘adventures’. But, that was not what Pete was all about. He had a passion for life, and that passion became even more vivid when he became a Christian. He was not shy about sharing his clear transformation and was quick to establish and lead a Bible study at work. I can still remember the study we did in the book of Acts–possibly his favorite book since it was a story of a living faith through the work of Holy Spirit. I recall the day he found out he was going to be a father and the excitement was evident by the constant smile on his face during the workday hard to imagine at Battelle!.
I know that many, including our family, prayed for healing for Pete. Rest assured that the prayers have been answered. He is healed completely.
I met Pete shortly after he moved to Richland thru the IMAC”s and was with him on a couple back-pack and climbing trips. One of the climbs was Mt Constance in the Olympics, as I recall. While this climb is not technically difficult, close to the top the climber is separated from the summit by a large steep snow field that has no safe runout if one should fall unchecked. This place is picturequely called the “Terrible Traverse”. The group summited but on the way down, one person fell. He was readily checked-on this particular day the snow being quite soft.
A few years later I believe, Pete attempted to climb the highest peak in the Tatra Mtns in Poland with a guide but was weathered off.
During the Arab oil boycot in the late 70’s Pete and Betsy’s living room was graced with a large log burning wood stove, a response to the energy shortage conditioned by Pete’s Northern Wisconsin farmland origins, I expect.
Pete taught a course at the Graduate Center, “Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engering”. This course was based on his lecture notes from a similar course he took at U of Minn. I believe some of his lectures were directly from his classroom notes so he must have been an exceptionally good note taker.
About his sense of humor, where would you ever find a house with a permanent bilingual Polish/English sign on the front door that said Dom Entroje/Entrope House?
Whenever I saw Pete after his stroke he was unfailingly cheerful and welcoming.
I wish peace for him and for Elizabeth and their sons.
Dear Betsy,
I hope you feel the many loving thoughts that are with you. Remembering you and your family with deepest sympathy.
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Peter. He will always remain one of my favorite people. I will never forget his smile and laugh and playful twinkle in his eyes. I humbly offer my condolences to his family.
Betsy and Family:
Our thoughts are with you at this special time.
Richard and Melvina
May your wonderful memories and the appreciation of Pete’s deep faith comfort you. I am praying for you and your family and know that God is with you. The obituary told the life of Pete so well that one can feel acquainted and appreciate his remarkable life. Rita Mazur
It was a great pleasure for me to work closely with Pete on the N Reactor draft EIS. He was diligent, hard-working, and always energetic. Please accept my sympathies on your great loss.
Sorry to see he’s gone,
Ron Wojnas
pediatrician to his sons.
Betsy: The obituary was a great tribute and showed me how appreciated Pete was. Doug, Eli, and I send our condolences to you and your three wonderful boys.
Love, Andrea
Betsy, Tom, John and Andrew,
Peter was loved and will be missed. I remember our wonderful times together at the Bayhouse, over Holidays and camping. Peter explored and ran the Bayhouse property and on any 4th of July we were together we enjoyed his insatiable appetite for fireworks. He shared his enthusiasm and techniques with our kids and they found Uncle Pete to be “awesome”. Life shared with your family was always a treat.
We love you and we will all miss Pete. Thank God for his example of intentional living and deep faith.
Love and blessings,
Sherri Owzarski
Guestbook for
Peter Cecil Owczarski