James Kowalski, the man who started a namesake chain of nine supermarkets in the Twin Cities, died on Thursday during a fishing trip in Canada.
The tragic accident happened on a float plane passing over an Ontario lake, but was not a crash, Deb Kowalski, family member and Kowalski's employee, told the Star Tribune. Another person on the plane who was an old friend of Jim's was unharmed.
Ontario Provincial Police released a report late Thursday evening stating Kowalski was seen at around 10:30 a.m. outside the Cessna plane while it taxied onto the shore of a lake located around 20 miles south of the town of Red Lake.
Ontario Constable David Lamme said Kowalski's cause of death had not yet been determined, but by the time police arrived on the scene, Kowalski was already dead. Jim was flown to the Red Lake airport to see paramedics there, but it was too late.
67-year-old Kowalski was the founder of Kowalski's Markets, a well-to-do chain of supermarkets in the Midwest.
"Jim Kowalski started his grocery life working for Red Owl," John Dean, a supermarket consultant in the Twin Cities, said of the first Kowalski's Market on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. "He did an excellent job for them and ended up buying a store from the Red Owl group as it disbanded. Jim said it was a store nobody else wanted."
With his wife Mary Anne, Kowalski opened a second supermarket in White Bear Lake.
There are currently Kowalski's outlets in Eagan, Eden Prairie, Woodbury, Oak Park Heights and Minneapolis.
According to supermarket analyst David Livingston, the store has always done well.
"It's been a very well-managed company," he told the Star Tribune. "They've been able to survive the changes in the market."
Jim and Mary Anne were well-liked by friends, family, co-workers and employees. They've both gotten awards of the highest honor in their line of work-James was the recipient of Minnesota Grocer of the Year, while Mary Anne won the National Grocers Association Woman of the Year, CBS Local Minnesota reported.
Chris Coleman, mayor of St. Paul, expressed his sadness at the loss of a figure in the community on Thursday.
"Jim left a lasting legacy in St. Paul and across the metro area. His passing is tragic and my heart goes out to his family," he said.
