Our beloved son, Alexander Ezekiel Mackowski, 36, passed away from a truck accident Wednesday morning, Feb 8, 2023, at ThedaCare in Neenah. He was born on Dec. 2, 1986 in Rhinelander, at St. Mary's Hospital, as the best Christmas present in the world, to Debra (Krohn) and Mark Mackowski. He had one brother, Kenneth Frank Mackowski.
Alex attended Crandon Elementary School in which he participated in gymnastics, Little League on the Yankee's team and Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as well as helping with stage crew and lighting in drama. He also loved tearing apart his Yamaha Blaster. We bought him a Ford Ranger in which he spent lots of time "mudding" with his friends Danny Sheldon and Charles Guenther. He graduated from Crandon High School in 2005. In high school, he worked at Schaefer's and at Northern Lakes Service. After graduation, he attended Wyoming Technical Institute in Wyoming to become an automotive and diesel mechanic and graduated with several certifications. Then he moved to Appleton and started working at Peotters Collision Center where he did car repair and drove a tow truck. Then he worked at Noltes repairing vehicles, painting and electrical work and was a parts manager. They would get military vehicles from Oshkosh Truck which they would examine for problems. Alex took great pride in working on those vehicles for the men overseas to make sure they were perfect. He also worked at Ziebart, Pepsi and at the Winnebago County Shop. He loved working at the shop because he was able to work on many different vehicles. At times, he drove the snowplows. Later in life he bought a black Tahoe or "hoe" as he would call it, which he was planning on reaching 300 thousand miles with after he put in a new engine.
The major interests in Alex's life was being a mechanic and fixing things. He was one of those people who could fix anything. He started using a hammer when he was only 2 years old. Any mechanical object that broke down was given to Alex to take apart. Alex said he really began to learn about mechanisms when he received an electric remote control Traxxas truck at age 9, which he immediately began to modify.
He was becoming famous in our family for his homemade cheesecakes and barbecue since he loved to cook. Other interests included ice fishing on Lake Winnebago during Battle on Bago, Tearing it up during the summer on his friend's cigarette boat, also going on family vacations to places such as South Dakota, Kentucky, and Walt Disney World.
Alex was a cofounder of a racing team called "IODA", or International Off-Road Drivers' Association with Milan Mazanec and Kelly Kuether. He was very excited about working with them this summer. He had been working with the Allies for Autism SODA racing team.
The last five years Alex had many physical problems with his shoulders and neck after he suffered an accident on the job at Winnebago County Shop. He had five surgeries on his shoulders and two on his neck. He spent the last years on disability which prevented him from working but he always found time and energy to help anyone needing his automotive skills.
Some of his dreams were to buy his own home with a shop where he could be his own boss and fix things the "best" way so it wouldn't have to be fixed again. He always wanted to be a racer with 4-wheelers or a race truck. He would do anything to help someone. He often would drive to someone whose car had broken down to help them. He was extremely kind to elderly people helping them with whatever they needed without anyone asking him. Children were drawn to him and he especially loved his niece and nephews. In short, Alex was a wonderful man who was dearly loved. One of his greatest joys in life was having awesome friends whom he talked with often.
He is survived by his parents, Mark and Debra Mackowski, Nana, Geraldine Mackowski, one brother, Kenneth Mackowski, Ashley Nelson, niece Allexandria Mackowski, nephews Carter, Parker, Jordy and Maverick Mackowski, Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Jerry Place, Uncle Edmund Mackowski (Sue), Aunt Geraldine Muszynski (Lenny Mahsen), Aunt Julianne Engel, Aunt Carrie (Tim) Schwonke, Uncle Mike (Becky) Mackowski and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hildegard and Cecil Krohn, Dzia Edmund Mackowski and Uncle Randy Krohn.
Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, with the informal service to follow in which anyone may speak who wishes to. Visitation and service will be held at Weber-Hill Funeral Home in Crandon. Following services, a luncheon will be held at Lake Avenue Restaurant in Crandon.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Allies of Autism, W7415 Red Hawk Dr., Appleton, WI 54914. Allies of Autism was the name of the race team Alex worked with and loved for the past few years.
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