Cheri Kowalski, 72 of Loup City, NE died Thursday, January 15, 206 at her home in Loup City. Cremation has been held. Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 24, 2026 at the Loup City Community Building with Michael Koenig officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Loup City American Legion Post #48 and United States Air Force Honor Guard and will follow the service outside the community building. Visitation will be one hour before service time. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Friends of Paplin, PoW/MiA, or National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCEMEC). The service will be live streamed on the Higgins Funeral Home Facebook page. The direct link is facebook.com/higgins.funeral.home.loup.city/

     Cheri Ann Kowalski was born in Dallas, TX July 21, 1953 the daughter of Leonard and Lillie Mae (Davis) Kowalski. She attended Bishop Dunne Catholic School in Dallas Graduating in 1971. She graduated from Kearney State College with a degree in Art Education. She taught K-12 Art at Pleasanton High School before enlisting in the US Airforce where she served for 20 years. She continued as an educator in the Air Force and through retirement as a civil servant. Retiring from Civil Service, she moved to Loup City to manage and eventually own the Frederick Hotel. She became a pillar of the community and impacted the lives of everyone she met. She was a “Jill of all Trades”, a “Tinkerer”, a Hobbyist, a Political Enthusiast, and loving Mother and Friend. 

     Cheri is survived by her son, Michael Stearns and his partner, Anacapri O’Connor of Wichita Falls, TX; brother, David and (Sister-in-law) Donna Kowalski of Mobile; niece, Drew Kowalski of Dallas, TX and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Randy Kowalski.