Walter Zukowski was born in Augustow in Russian Poland on January 8, 1899. In 1905 he came to the United States with his mother; his father, Joseph, had preceded the family by several years and had worked as a miner in Spring Valley, Illinois. The family eventually settled in St. Hedwig's Parish in Milwaukee; later they moved to the parishes of St. Casimir's and St. Mary of Czestochowa. Zukowski attended parochial grade school until age 14, then worked a variety of jobs to earn money for his family, while attending school.
During World War I, Zukowski served with the American Expeditionary Forces in England, France, and Germany. Following the war he returned to Milwaukee where he worked as an insurance agent, a salesman, and a public relations man. From 1923-1931, he worked in the public relations department of Holeproof Hosiery Company, using the name of Walter Stanley at the company's request. Apparently Zukowski lost his job with the company because of his involvement with the Textile Workers Union. Subsequently, Zukowski worked as a floor manager for Schusters Department Store and at Sears until his retirement in 1964.
