Individual Details

Death

Frank Eugene Kowing Jr., 72, was deceased on Sept. 24, 2016.
A painter whose work had evolved from impressionist paintings early in his career to found-object sculpture/painting, political commentary artworks and abstract expressionist paintings throughout his adult life, his later works combined elements off all of these. He lived and traveled throughout the world and his paintings are owned by individuals in many countries as well as throughout the U.S.
Kowing was born April 1, 1944, in McMinnville, Ore., to Frank Sr. and Myrtle (Porter) Kowing. After graduating from McMinnville High School in 1962, he attended Linfield College, graduating with a degree in art in 1966. He then joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific, stationed out of Japan, during the Vietnam War.
He studied painting at the Rietveld Academy in the Netherlands and subsequently obtained a Master’s of Fine Art in painting at Penn State University in 1973. He served in the Peace Corps in Tunisia, teaching art and living skills to developmentally disabled students, settled in Maryland for the remainder of his life, where he continued his lifelong career in art, painting and curating galleries and museums.
Kowing was married to Peggy McCardle and the couple lived in Burnham from 1970 to 1972 before moving to State College for graduate school. They were later divorced, but had remained friends and were working together on a volume of his memories, which she intends to complete in his honor. Several Mifflin County residents are owners of Kowing’s earlier paintings.
Kowing married twice more and was twice widowed. He was a proud member and elder of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. He liked to travel and write about his adventures and thoughts, often working these into his works of art and stories.
Kowing was predeceased by his father, Frank Sr., and his mother, Myrtle. He is survived by his sisters, Judith Nesbit, of Rose Valley, Wash., and Nancy Earl, of Homedale, Idaho; brothers, Bradley, of Prineville, Ore., and Terry, of Middletown, Calif.; and a son, Joel Siemienczuk, of St. Helens, Ore. He also had many friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.
Kowing’s advance directives included cremation and celebrations of his life, with interment at the Grand Ronde Cemetery in Grand Ronde, Ore. He was loved by many and will be sorely missed.