Louise was born to Henry and Helena Loewen on August 27, 1929, on the family farm in Colonsay, Saskatchewan, tenth of twelve children. After high school, she attended Briercrest Bible School in Caronport, Saskatchewan, obtaining a certificate in commercial skills. Afterwards she took employment in Saskatoon where she attended University Drive Alliance Church and met Edward Kowalenko. Ed and Louise were married in 1952 and welcomed their daughter Jayne in 1954. In 1955 they moved to Edmonton, where sons Paul (1956) and Don (1959) were born, and became active members of Beulah Alliance Church. The family was transferred to Calgary in 1966 where they were active members of First Alliance Church until 1979, when Ed and Louise helped pioneer Southview Alliance Church. During her working career, Louise worked as a secretary in various hospitals, schools, a museum, and her church. Ed and Louise retired to their beloved “Elkoko” acreage near Grindrod, BC in 1989, until their return to Calgary in 2000, shortly after Ed became quadriplegic. The depth of Louise’s grace, strength and character shone brightest over the next 17 years, as she was Ed’s primary caregiver, until his passing in 2017. All the while, Louise continued to excel in her role as mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Louise is survived by her three children and spouses, Jayne and Mark Burnham, Paul and Sharon Kowalenko, and Donald and Lynne Kowalenko; her ten grandchildren: Lindsay (John Nichols), Jillian (Doug Weston), Brock (Alyssa) Burnham; Warren, Darrel (Rachel), Natalie and Jaclyn Kowalenko; Alison (Scott Ayars), Jaimie (Seth Roemmele) and Megan Bryce (fiancé, Danton Stickel); and fourteen great-grandchildren: Morgan and Levi Nichols; Jayla and Brody Weston; Grayson, Tanner, and Mackenzie Burnham; Hannah, Aiden, Jaxon, Tyson and Genevieve Kowalenko; Ryla Ayars; and Kinsley Roemmele. Louise is also survived by her younger sisters Helen Koehn of Kelowna and Elsie Betsch of Birmingham, Alabama. Louise was predeceased by her husband, Ed, in 2017; her grandson-in-law, Caleb Bryce, in 2020; and her nine older siblings.
Sincere thanks is extended to the beautiful Academy of Aging staff, Dr’s. Louise Roos and Jennie Herd, and Louise’s broader team of dedicated care givers, who provided excellent compassion and care. Louise so appreciated each of you.
A Funeral Service will be held at Southview Church, (20200 Walden Blvd SE, Calgary) on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. The service is available online, the link is below.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Louise’s memory to Southview Alliance Church designated for the Global Advance Fund (global missions).
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