Charles (Chuck) Thomas Kowaleski passed away at his home in Salado on March 23, 2020 from Brain Cancer. 

Kowaleski graduated from Killeen High School in 1973. He received a Bachelor of  Science degree (Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) from Texas A&M in 1977. 

In  1979, Kowaleski received a Master of Science Degree from Sul Ross.  He was a Peace Corp Volunteer in Liberia West Africa from 1980-1982. After earning a  Teaching Degree, he taught High School Biology at Killeen High School from 1985-1990. 

He started his career in 1990 as a TPWD Coastal Fisheries Technician in Seabrook. He then transferred over as one of two newly created Urban Fish and Wildlife Biologists in the Houston area in 1993. He  later took a job at Austin HQ in 1999 to manage Project WILD teacher trainings. He created and produced the first electronic learning versions of Project WILD and Proyecto WILD for the U.S. and was awarded a certificate at the national Project WILD meeting in Jackson, WY in 2001. Later that year, Chuck became the TPWD Farm Bill Coordinator working directly with NRCS in Temple. He has worked in this position for the last 18 years. 

During his career Kowaleski has served in a number of important roles dealing with conservation issues at a national level. These include AFWA’s national EQIP Farm Bill Chair as well as a working member of numerous other committees involved with the farm bill. Chuck has also been a National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative working committee member for the last six years and in NBCI’s general committee for most of the last 18 years. Kowaleski  has also received many accolades for his hard work and dedication to conservation including the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Wildlife Biologist of the Year Award in 2014 and the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Conservation Science Award in 2017. Chuck retired August 31, 2019. 

He  was born on October 3, 1955 to Casey and Donna Kowaleski in Rantoul, Illinois. He was preceded in death by both parents. 

He is survived by his wife, Karen (Raub), sister Barbara (Payne) and brother David  Kowaleski along with nieces and nephews. 

A private funeral service will be held. 

Arrangements are being made by Broecker Funeral Home in Salado.