Marlborough – Lt. Col. Patrick J. Gowaski, US Army (Ret), 90, of Marlborough died Wednesday December 20, 2023 at UMASS Memorial Medical Center in Worcester after complications due to a stroke. He was the husband for 50 years of the late Miriam S. (Riley) Gowaski who died in 2009.
Pat was born in Marinette, Wisconsin the son of the late John F. and Rosella M. (Crowley) Gowaski, and was a 1951 graduate of Our of Lady Lourdes High School, All Catholic Conference Team center in a single wing formation. All state Wisconsin Honorable mention. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Norbert’s College in De Pere, Wisconsin.
In 1955, he entered the United States Army as a commissioned officer with the rank of Lieutenant. He served his country in Vietnam, receiving numerous medals and awards including the Bronze Star Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with the Palm Medal. Lt. Col. Gowaski retired from the Army in 1975 after 20 years of military service.
Shortly after his retirement he began a career with Control Data Corporation in Waltham where he was the facilities manager for 18 years retiring in 1993.
Pat was a loving, faithful husband, devoted father and proud grandfather.
He was a member of St. Matthias Church, a volunteer for Our Father’s Table and Marlborough Hospital. He was an avid Greenbay Packer fan. He enjoyed tending to his garden, collecting coins – and sharing those coins with his grandkids and will be remembered for his great sense of humor. He was genuinely sincere and always helped others in need. When Mim died, he kept up her tradition of hosting Sunday dinners which gave us a reason to stay connected and close as a family in spite of our busy lives. He also looked forward to taking a few weeks every Summer to travel back to Wisconsin so he could hang out with his brothers and visit childhood friends.
He leaves five sons, Peter J. Gowaski (Joyce) of Clinton, Philip J. Gowaski (Joanne) of Palos Heights, IL, Christopher W. Gowaski (Sheila) of Auburn, Damian M. Gowaski (Lisa) of West Boylston, Gregory P. Gowaski (Karolyn) of Marlborough; two brothers John “Jack” Gowaski of Green Bay, WI and Joseph Gowaskie (Marianne) of Bristol, PA; eleven grandchildren: Adam (Kerri), Ben (Nicole), Martha (Ryan), Alex, Aaron, Ethan, Aidan, Jack, Erin, Devan and Jillian; many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was the father of the late Paul J. Gowaski of Marlborough who died in 1968.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday January 5 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Matthias Church, 409 Hemenway Street, Marlborough. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Wilson Street, Marlborough. Calling hours will be held Thursday January 4 from 5-8 PM in the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org). All are invited to sign his online guestbook at collinsfuneral.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.
