Dr. Gerald J. Langowski

Dr. Gerald J. Langowski, age 87, of Winona, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024, at Winona Health.

He was born on March 6, 1937, in Winona, to Sylvester and Genevieve (Ratajczyk) Langowski, and was a graduate of Cotter High School.

Jerry married Rosemary (Fredrickson) Cherry in 1959, and they divorced.  He later married Ceil (Lelwica) Adank on June 16, 1984, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Winona.

In 1959, Jerry received his Bachelor of Arts degree in French, German, and Spanish from St. Mary’s College in Winona.  As the first recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship from St. Mary’s, he completed studies at the University of Chile in Santiago from 1959-1960.  In 1961, Jerry earned his Masters in Spanish from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and he completed his PhD in Spanish and Spanish American Literature at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1973.

From 1961-1964, Jerry served as an instructor in Hibbing, MN, at Hibbing High School and the Hibbing Junior College.  He went on to serve in higher education, first as an assistant professor from 1964-1965 at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and then as a professor and chairman of the Modern Language Department at St. Mary’s College in Winona from 1965 until his retirement in 1999.  While at St. Mary’s, Jerry served in many capacities which included various committees and advisory roles.  He also published and contributed to several scholarly publications through his writings, papers, books, and book reviews.

Jerry was proud of his Polish heritage and was a member of the Polish Heritage Society, serving as its secretary and president, and he made significant contributions to recording and preserving the history of the Polish settlers in Winona through various writings and books.

He was a former member of St. Casimir’s Catholic Church in Winona and was presently a member of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka.  Jerry will be remembered for his enjoyment of golfing, fishing, being on the river, reading, and traveling.

Jerry is lovingly survived by his wife, Ceil; children: Anthony (Blanca) Langowski, Maria (John) Ozbun, Andrew (Judy) Langowski, Alicia (Michael) McHugh, Mark (Nola) Langowski, and Matthew Langowski; step-children: Paul (Jackie) Adank, Katherine (Dan Cada) Adank, John (Kari) Adank, Julie (Jamie) Klein, and Peggy (Paul) Killian; 17 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; siblings: John (Martha) Langowski and Judy (Gene) Thesing; life-long friends: Gene Gorny and Orest Ochrymowycz; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother: James Langowski; and sisters-in-law: Diane Langowski and Joyce Langowski.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka.  Jerry will be laid to rest in a private family burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, 376 E. Sarnia St., on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 4 PM until 7 PM, where a prayer service will be conducted at 6:30 PM by his son-in-law, John Ozbun.  There will not be any visitation held on Wednesday, please meet at the Basilica for the Mass.

The family would prefer memorials be directed to Masses or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Jerry’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.