William “Bill” Joseph Nowak, 87, of De Pere died Friday, January 12, 2024, at his home. He was born June 25, 1936, in De Pere to the late Valentine and Cecelia (Rukamp) Nowak.
Bill was a graduate of De Pere High School, Class of 1954. Afterward, Bill went off to join the Army and served two years, and later two more years in the Army Reserves. Following his time in the military, he started his career in construction with Selmer where he spent forty-four years as a carpenter. In 1999, Bill retired from the Union and spent his time traveling, camping, and spending many late nights playing cards with his friends and family. He was a family man who spent many Packers Sundays with his grandchildren where they followed suit learning how to play card games Cribbage and Back Alley. In his early years, Bill met his wife of 67 years, Nancy (Phillips) Nowak, and together they went on to have four children, Jeff, Russ, Jay, and Chris.
Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy; his sons, Russell (Denise) Nowak, Jay (Carrie) Nowak, and Chris (Mary) Nowak; his grandchildren, Bill Nowak, Drew (Maria) Nowak, Carli (Tom) Stueck, Alli (Matt) Haberland, Sasha (Jimmy) Hixson, Cara (Sam) Kinderman, Hunter Nowak and Ashley Nowak; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Chet Nowak; sister-in-law, Joy (Thomson) Nowak; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey Nowak; brother, Howie Nowak; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leonard and Elsie Phillips.
Friends may call at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 2040 Hillside Lane, on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Funeral Mass 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the church with Rev. William Hoffman officiating. Entombment will take place at the Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoelum. Online condolences may be given at www.prokowall.com. To view the livestream, please visit the Proko-Wall Funeral Home Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund will be established.
Alex Bahrke is serving the family.