Henry J. "Hank" Kosidowski

Henry "Hank" Kosidowski, born May 29, 1933, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026. He is survived by his children Paul (Kathy) and Mary (Bob) Brueggeman. Preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Charlotte; and his daughters Ann Kosidowski and Sue O'Neal. He was "Boppa" to grandchildren Brian and Jeff O’Neal, Joe Kosidowski and Susan Brueggeman.

A graduate of Marquette University in 1955, Hank served in the Army in Nuremberg, Germany for two years. Returning home, he married Charlotte and they started a life together. Children came quickly: Paul (1959), Ann (1961), Mary (1962), Susan (1964).

After living above Charlotte's parents for two years, they needed more room and bought a house in Wauwatosa. He used his business degree to land a job with GMAC, helping dealers and buyers finance car purchases. But after taking a community class in flower arranging, he discovered a passion that would last a lifetime.

Hank's Floral Decorations, operating out of his house, provided flowers for weddings and funerals. As the business grew, neighborhood friends and his daughter Mary became employees, servicing up 6 or 7 weddings on a single Saturday. On Thursday and Friday nights, the rec-room ping-pong table was converted into work-stations and laughter would waft up from the basement as the crew would joke and gossip as they created bouquets and arrangements for that weekend. On particularly busy summer nights, someone would inevitably run out to Gilles' Frozen Custard for hot fudge pecan sundaes.

He also took pride in creating the decorations at his home parish, St. Jude the Apostle, where he created spectacular altar pieces for Christmas and Easter.

Hank loved spending time with family. Growing up near Brady Street with four older sisters, the gatherings in later years were energetic affairs, parties teeming with nieces, nephews and cousins. As the extended family aged and some moved out of the area, he kept in touch with phone calls and occasional visits to Chicago, Omaha and North Carolina. He prided himself on remembering birthdays and most members of the Kosidowski clan could always depend on a birthday phone call.

In his later years, his four grandchildren were the highlight of his family life. He watched their games--soccer, tennis, basketball--and applauded their talents at high school musicals. And he loved sitting down with them to hear about their day-to-day lives in school and work.

He made friends easily and held onto them tenaciously. For every new neighborhood in his life, a crop of new friends bloomed and many lasted a lifetime. For his 90th birthday, friends and relatives sent him wishes from all phases of his life: his extended family, the Marquette fraternity, the house on Pleasant View, Elkhart Lake, the Lamplighter Park neighborhood and Naples, Florida.

He, of course, loved all his children, but had a special place in his heart for Ann, who was born with Down syndrome. He and Charlotte courageously decided against institutionalization at birth, which was common in the 1960s. Instead, Ann had a rich life of friendships, travel, employment and warm family love. She lived and traveled with Hank and Charlotte for most of her life, entering a group home only when Hank suffered a near fatal fall that made it impossible for him to care for her.

That fall also brought him to the Congregational Home, where he made new friends and embraced his life with renewed energy. He loved chatting with friends at meals, greeting staff as they passed in the hallway, singing along at concerts and birthday parties and moaning about regularly losing at Friday bingo.

Hank had a joyful soul and a deep Catholic faith that helped him weather the many trials of his life: the deaths of two daughters, four sisters, many dear friends and his wife of 66 years. Despite these losses, he leaves behind many admiring friends and relatives who will remember him for his ready smile, his self-effacing, down-to-earth sense of humor, and his cheerful embrace of all that life has to offer.

A visitation will be held Friday June 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at Saint Jude the Apostle Church, 734 Glenview Ave., Wauwatosa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Hank's name to St. Coletta’s of Wisconsin, N4637 County Road Y, Jefferson, WI 53549. Or St. Jude the Apostle Parish, 734 Glenview Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213.