DAVE KOWALL

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DAVE KOWALL Dave Kowall, 94 of Lauderhill, Florida passed away on November 11, 2015. He is survived by his loving wife Nayna Helen Freda Kowall (nee Green); his children Donna Koffman of Toronto, ON, Stephen Kowall and spouse Christina of Winnipeg, MB, Scott Kowall of Lighthouse Point, FL, Deborah Kowall-Wajsblat and spouse Bennett of Davie, FL; and six grandchildren Allyson Koffman, Jess Koffman, Melissa Maher, Jennifer Kowall, Matt Wajsblat and Simon Wajsblat; plus six great-grandchildren Reese, Lexi, Jordyn, Gavyn, Scarlette and Jack. Dave is predeceased by his sister Edyth Cramer of Winnipeg, MB, brothers Russel Kowall of Winnipeg, MB and Morris Kowall of Calgary, AB. Dave was born October 6, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Hymie and Bessie Kowall. As a boy, Dave's hobby was building radios and working as a DJ at parties. When he was thirteen years old he sold newspapers on the streets of downtown Winnipeg. Out of high school he got a job in rural Manitoba as a surveyor lineman. During this time he joined a National Guard unit, the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. When the Second World World War began he resigned the Dragoons to join the Canadian military. Dave was assigned to the British Royal Air Force during the Second World War. His knowledge of radios had him working with British Intelligence MI5 helping to design specialized radar. He also spent several years as a radar specialist flying missions in North Africa against the Nazis. While overseas he sent his pay home to his parents so they could buy a home for themselves and his siblings. On April 3, 1946 Dave married Nayna Green. During the great Winnipeg flood of the 1950s Dave and Nayna started building pumps in their garage. Later Dave started Super-Lite Electric Mfg. Company making lighting fixtures; the business grew and he moved from the garage to a small shop. Jake Karlinsky became his business partner. Eventually Super-Lite Electric became one of the largest specialized light fixture manufacturing plants in Western Canada. In mid-1950s Dave and Nayna moved to a farm outside of Winnipeg. The farm consisted of dogs, cats, horses, chickens and a cow named Betsy which Dave milked every morning before he went to work at Super-Lite Electric. He also with a partner started the Bar-NK-Ranch, a large riding stable down the road from the farm. He often would visit architects in his cowboy boots and his Stetson hat. Dave was a Shriner and a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society. In the 1970s Dave and Jake sold Super-Lite Electric. He moved with Nayna, Debbi and Scott to Florida. Dave with his son Scott started Lite-All Inc., a lighting fixture manufacturing company in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. While in Florida Dave became a partner in a Panama shipping freighter and got his captain's license. Dave had many interests; he was an amateur radio operator, bicyclist, an avid hunter and fisherman. Funeral Services will be held at the Boca Raton Cemetery, 451 S.W. 4th Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33432 on Monday, November 16, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to the Autism Research Trust http://autismresearchtrust.org/

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 16, 2015