Most of what we know about Bob's third marriage has been made public in the decades following his death, due to the legal battles over his estate. It was small, flat, and generally inconspicuous. Joseph 'Joe' Kowalski, 51 Obituary and service information from Adams-Green Funeral Home. The Lansing Journal balanced, local, community-building news. There was a larger irony at play, if it can be called that. As his geographic footprint expanded by leaps and bounds, Bob quickly established himself as one of the top working TV artists. I was so mesmerized by Bob that I didnt paint, I just followed him around the room watching him interact with the other students.. But the real issue between the Kowalskis and Ross started after Ross's wife died . As had always been the case, it wasnt entirely clear if Bob Ross, Inc., owned what they were selling since the Kowalskis lawsuit against and settlements with Bobs estate left some of Bobs intellectual propertyespecially the right to use his name and likeness for commercial productsin a potential legal gray zone. Jumping headlong into a business venture wasnt out of the ordinary for the Kowalskis. That devotion came out in spades after their oldest son was killed in a car accident at the heartbreaking age of 25. Walt and Annette knew what would happen if they did do it, Steve said. You have entered an incorrect email address. Per her wishes, there will no visitation and burial will be private. Sherri Shepherd, who will permanently take over Wendy's time slot, guest hosted the last episode of the once popular daytime talk show which is ending after 13 years. For the first time in at least 15 years, its an opportunity to learn from Bobs two most trusted master painters: Steve and Dana, Bobs son and his best friend. i am waiting on the good times now. Eyes that were cold and calculating. In his late teens, he joined the US Air Force . Kenneth H. Turner, age 66 of Lansing, IL (formerly of Park Forest, IL), passed away on Monday, February 27, 2023. In addition to demanding the destruction of any merchandise related to The Adventures of Elmer & Friends, all profits Terry had reaped, and triple the damages Bob Ross, Inc., had allegedly incurred, the suit also tacked on $500,000 as a penalty for Terrys allegedly encouraging, assisting, and cooperating with Bob Ross in the breach of his fiduciary duty of loyalty to Bob Ross, Inc.. Email the URL or advertiser name to [emailprotected]. He was also recently in federal court. Dennis had a problem on his hands. That something began a little before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2019, an hour due east of the tiny makeshift TV studio where Bob Ross had launched his career all those years ago. Upon arrival, hed cover the tables, set up workstations, collect the $20-30 class fee, sell paint supplies, and then teach the actual class. There were other issues that added to the growing strains, such as Bobs sometimes messy personal life. She piled on, saying that Bobs last words to me were that he was very, very upset over what Terry had done, and he refused to pay him for his share of the production. Or, to be more precise, his eponymous company Bob Ross, Inc., was. All in all, the strategy was designed to gain total control of Bobs afterlifedespite Bobs clear intent otherwise. And second, given what Bob was going through, Terry says he had simply paid the tab himself since he didnt want to bother Bob about money while the man was fighting for his life. For instance, according to probate documents, the Mayo Clinic asked for a little more than $40,000 for Bobs medical expenses, and Lynda asked for around $10,000 for Bobs funeraltwo standard items one expects to see. (Efforts to reach Walt and Annette directly for comment were not successful, and Joan declined to arrange an interview or pass along written questions about business and personal decisions they made through the years, especially regarding their actions following Bobs death.). Years later, shes more reflective about the rocket ship Twitch launched back then. Nor was it in the bustling suburbs of Washington, D.C., where Bob Ross, Inc., was founded and still resides. Rinse, repeat. This was in the form of a brief television spot the Kowalskis wanted to run to gin up interest in Bobs classes wherever he might be. Few could or would go toe to toe with well-heeled, and well-financed, lawyers whose clients had made it clear that there were not many levels to which they would not stoop. Several dozen artists have converged here for a painting workshop unlike any other in recent memory. The event that in many ways kickstarted Bob Ross, Inc., was any parents worst nightmare: the loss of a child. His abiding worry was getting sued over his own surname. Less than a month later, the Kowalskis filed a federal lawsuit against WIPB and the shows producer, an Indiana dermatologist named Terry Marsh. He was absolutely competent at that time. The sharp-elbowed parameters the founders apparently decided on, combined with Bobs prodigious talent, allowed Bob Ross, Inc., to become the 800-pound gorilla of the hobby-art world. Hed show up at a cheap hotel ballroomor a church, or a civic center, or one of the countless mom-and-pop hobby-art stores that dotted the nation in the days before Michaels and Hobby Lobby. From there, he was able to start a whole business, known as Bob Ross Inc., that went on to earn millions of dollars. The technique involved placing wet oil paint on other wet paint, rather than waiting for layers to dry. Here the Kowalskis pounced. With the lawsuits settled, Bob Ross, Inc., was in the free and clear to roll on through the rest of the 1990s. Hes been satirized by the comic-book anti-hero Deadpool, the world-infamous street artist Banksy, and even Jim Carrey as Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live. Like the first time Ive had the sun on my face in a thousand years., Alston Ramsay is a writer and producer in Los Angeles. He was incredibly warm, gave out hugs like candy, and was often generous to a fault. Most notable was the final amendment he made a mere two months before his death. All of those rights were to go to Steve and one of Bobs half-brothers. Once again, he gave credit where credit was due and dedicated the series to Bill and the precious gift he had given him. Bob would get a leg up using Bills name to sell his services, and Bill would keep expanding his companys reach and spreading the Alexander technique via Bob. Kowalski told the Daily Beast the move extended Bob Ross legacy, and that he would have approved. In fact, the title shed give him over friend was tyrant. But that wasnt necessarily a condemnation. As a result of the companys structure, her stock was divided equally among the surviving three partners. Bob Ross and Annette Kowalski / YouTube. It didnt matter if it was his estate, his heirs, or anyone with even a passing interest in Bob Rossall were about to be put on notice that Bob Ross, Inc., played hard and played to win. He left Steve behind with his second wife, Jane, a Defense Department civilian, and headed into the unknown. If none of these were business expenses, and instead Annette was there solely in her capacity as one of Bobs close friends to support him in his time of needwell, with friends like these, who needs enemies. Joan was leeryas she and her parents had always been about streaming since they felt like theyd lose control of The Joy of Painting, the crown jewel of the companys intellectual property. Bob arrived and told them about his background, how he had trained with Bill, and what he loved about painting. He devoted untold amounts of time and money to rehabilitating injured critters. Bill, on the other hand, was a short, stocky German immigrant with a neck like a linebackers, fingers like sausages, and about as much energy as the sun. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Ross met the Kowalskis when Annette Kowalski came to take a painting class at a time when. Somehow, he lifted me up out of that depression. Loving mother of the late Wayne. The official Bob Ross The Joy of Paintingchannel has just under five million subscribers, and his videos regularly rack up seven- and eight-digit view tallies. In a separate claim, they also demanded reimbursement for personal expensesagain for the trips to Rochester and Jacksonville. Through their lawyers, Annette and Walt demanded that Bobs widow Lynda and the estate turn over what they considered to be their propertyand they took an expansive view of what they owned. "Bob was not always full of compliments, but he said to me, 'Annette, you are the wind beneath my wings.' He has been my mentor and friend and has been so instrumental in all that I have accomplished. Both were easy to laugh and quick to crack a joke, often of the ribald variety. Hes also a smash hit on social media, where he feels more like a Gen-Z influencer than a once semi-obscure PBS celebrity who rose to fame in the 1980s on the back of his bouffant hairdo, hypnotic singsong baritone, and a timeless message about the beauty of the world around us. For their desire, above all else, to keep him forever chained to the corporate husk of Bob Ross, Inc., of which they now owned 100 percent. The series was picked up by around 40 other PBS stationsa modest but successful showing. (Theres zero evidence for either of these.). We understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. But that wasnt the real reason for the call. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Several banner years in the early 1990s saw Bob take in around $120,000 ($220,000 now). In the summer of 1981, right as Bob was mustering out of the Air Force, that nightmare came true for Annette and Walt Kowalski, parents of five living a modest middle-class life on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. The social-media platform Twitch was starting a new online channel, and they wanted to launch it with a Bob Ross marathon. Like Bill, some other artists in the business were more likely to view their colleagues as collaborators rather than competitors. Other times, he showcased guests painting. Joan Kowalski told the Daily Beast she was young at the time of Bob Ross death and illness, but said she remembers no tension whatsoever between her parents and Ross. But one of her nephews understood the potential. I was devastated, and I was laying on the couch, unable to move, after the death of this child, she told the publication. Because Bob Ross appears in that video, they are claiming that it is an infringement of their trademark, Terrys attorney explained to The Muncie Evening Press at the time. . However, after Steve Ross filed a lawsuit in 2017, a judge determined that Bob Ross could not give the company to new owners when he owned a minority share in the company, the Daily Beast reported. While suffering depression, she started watching German painter Bill Alexander, who had a TV show on PBS. She is survived by her two sons and their families, David, Su, Andrew, and Nicolas Langdon of Falmouth, ME, and Paul Langdon, Pamela Molochko, Lily, Max, and Jasper Langdon of Wethersfield, CT. She is also survived by her sister, Carole of Walpole, and nephews Joseph and Ken Ferrelli, and her brother, Dan and wife Fran Quintilliani of Plymouth, and their children, Danny and Lisa Quintiliani, and their children, as well as several members of the Kowalski family, and of course, her much beloved loyal companion, her dog Patsy. Kowalski was devastated by the event and her grief. Ross really didn't make any money from the show itself. After his lymphoma returned, and as Walt and Annettes efforts to pressure him to sign over his rights intensified, Bob had worked proactively to ensure that Bob Ross, Inc., didnt wind up with any of his intellectual property beyond what had already been transferred to the company. It almost made me angry the first time I saw Alexander on TV, Bob later explained in the first season of The Joy of Painting. On July 4, 1995, Bob Ross felt that vibration as he became part of his God. Annette did as she was told, and they drove 1,000 miles south to the outskirts of Tampa to meet this so-called Bob Ross. In exchange, he offered the whopping sum of 1 percent of revenues to him or his heirsfor the next decade. Joan was stupid enough to do it, and thats what triggered me to pursue a lawsuit. Who knows how many more paintings Bob Ross had in him? On paper, the two might have seemed like an odd couple. So the Kowalskis or someone in their employ had sifted through a backlog of credit card bills from the past year and a half to come up with their figures. Beloved wife of the late Ereal Kowalski. Theyre using his name without permission. Through the media, she also threatened to yank WIPB as the presenting station for The Joy of Paintinga threat she would ultimately make good on. Nestled between endless cornfields, and a few towering windmills that slowly spin in the breeze, the 4-H Fairground in Winchester, Indiana, is little more than a squat, faded white building with a sun-baked gravel parking lot. The Kowalskis first target was Bobs estate. After paying their respects in the chapel, the funeral party made its way to the gravesite, where they entombed Bobs gleaming aluminum coffin beside his mother and father. The destruction of the audiotapes was one of the key clauses. It was an audacious ask, a brazen attempt to push Bob to do something he was likely never going to do. I made a deal with my wife, he later explained to the Orlando Sentinel. Both had military backgroundsand no small misgivings about that. The year was 1978, and, after a deployment in Thailand at the tail end of the Vietnam War, Bob had spent the last several years at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, just down the road from Coeur dAlene. Would you like to offer Annette Kowalskis loved ones a condolence message? The documentary alleges that Ross and Annette had an affaira charge that the Kowalski family dismisses as false. As the words of kindness flashed across the screen, as he took stock of it all, suddenly a deep emotion welled up inside and barreled toward him like a freight train. He made a blizzard of last-minute changes to his will, most notably inserting a clause specifically addressing his name, likeness, and the rest of his intellectual property. For what some saw as their efforts to stymie Bobs new ventures like the childrens TV show. There was no question of his ability to make changes when he did it, and his reasoning was as solid as it could be.. In the years that The Joy of Painting ran, Ross painted for 381 of the 403 episodes. If you have any information related to this article, please e-mail him at BobRossTips (at) gmail.com. Obituaries Annette Langdon Kowalski. The Kowalskis had married young and started a family in short order with five kids in only nine years. Walpole Ever since the war, Bill considered every day a blessing just to be alive. A passion that had been turbo-charged when, shortly after returning stateside, he had encountered Bill Alexander just as millions of others had at the time: on PBS, where Bill had pioneered an entirely new style of oil painting in which he could crank out a landscape in less than thirty minutesthe Alexander technique of wet-on-wet painting. She said yes to the proposal, and in short order the Twitch marathon launched Bob Ross into a new stratosphere. Annette made many friends wherever she lived and was generous and open hearted to so many. Bill had developed a particular vernacular centered around happy little anything, almighty everythingand he exhorted his audience to Fire in! with a bombastic gusto that felt like encouragement by sheer brute force. This allowed him to finish pieces quickly for his TV audience and sneak in a mischievous tree or errant cloud whenever his whim told him to. But if you would like you can do anything not painting- or art-related that you want. Donations in her memory can be made to the : Even in small exchanges, Saturdayborn had a capacity 'to remind students how amazing it is that we get to be alive' her daughter said. Walter Kowalski (Walt), a long-time Las Cruces resident and business owner, passed away on August 13, 2022. . https://t.co/KuVRV9VTeP, Bob Ross Official (@BobRossOfficial) August 25, 2021. Among the sources that tell of Lynda is the surprisingly detailed biography of Ross on Answers Africa, which states that the couple got married just two months before his death in 1995. Lived and was often generous to a fault Kowalskis when Annette Kowalski to. Explained to the proposal, and what he loved about painting how more! 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