Edward Nowak

March 15, 1922-October 6, 2014

Edward Nowak, 92, passed away Monday October 6, 2014 of a stroke at Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Oregon.

Ed was born March 15, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan to Stanley and Charlotte (Kazmierczak) Nowak. As their only child, he spent summers in Detroit, Michigan with his parents, and school years in Buffalo, New York with his maternal grandparents attending the local Polish Catholic grade school, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, during which he became fluent in the Polish. Ed graduated from Cass Tech high school, Detroit, MI in 1940. During World War II, Ed served his country in the Army Air Corps as a bomber pilot stationed in Oklahoma and Texas from 1942 to 1945. After his honorable military discharge, he married Margaret Jewell Dean in Medford, Oregon December 1, 1945. Ed and his wife returned to Detroit, Michigan where he worked for Chevrolet. In 1946 they moved to Cave Junction, Oregon where he worked at a gold mine and lumber mill before becoming a truck driver for a heating oil distributor. Six years later when the logging ran out he began working for Standard Oil Service Stations. Standard Oil transferred the family to Portland, Oregon. For the next thirty years, Ed worked in the Standard Oil Warehouse (now Chevron) at the Willbridge Terminal. He and his wife remained in Portland to work and raise their family.

Ed was a good, kind man with a playful sense of humor. He was a member of Elks for over 35 years. He was an avid golfer and a tenacious card player, playing bridge with friends and teaching his grandchildren Hearts, Up and Down, and Tripoly. Ed and Margaret participated in bowling leagues and travelled around the United States in their RV, spending many weeks at the Oregon Coast. He especially loved being with his grandchildren, taking them on family vacations, and cheering for them at their sporting events.

Edward Nowak is survived by his wife Margaret of 68 years; two children, Diane O’Dell (Rolland) and Bruce (Fusako); three grandchildren Kayleen Papin (Mike), Brendan O’Dell (Lina Kontos), and Meghan O’Dell-Ream (Matt); and eight great-grandchildren Vivian, Greta, Cully, Violet, David, Camilla, Xavier, and Claire.

He was a loving and giving husband, father, grampie, and friend. His laughter and smile will be missed. His funeral will be held at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home Friday October 10, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. (520 W Powell Blvd, Gresham, OR 97030) reception immediately to follow.