Thaddeus E. Nowakowski's Obituary
Thaddeus E. Nowakowski, Sr., age 88, of Rehoboth Beach, DE, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Milford Bay Health Center-Milford, DE. He was born April 18, 1921 in Wilmington, DE, son of the late Antoni and Anna Smolka Nowakowski who immigrated to the USA from Poland entering through Ellis Island.
Mr. Nowakowski was born and raised in Wilmington attending St. Hedwig's Catholic School and graduating from P.S. DuPont High School. He served with the U.S. Army Railway Battalion during WW II in both France and England. He was a stellar athlete throughout his high school, college and Army years and remained an avid sports fan during his lifetime. He formerly played on the Eastern Shore Basketball League. He worked many years as a commercial developer with Country Squire, Peddler's Village, Red Mill Farms, Fox Hollow, and the Pink Pony. He was a 50 year member, a past President and past Deputy District Governor of the Dewey Beach Lions Club and a Melvin Jones Fellow as well as a Ralph Helm Fellow; and a lifetime member of the Rehoboth Beach VFW. He was devoted to his family and friends and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Janet (Kavannaugh) Nowakowski (1999), a son James Brian Nowakowski and a daughter JoAnn Nowakowski. He is survived by his five other children: Thaddeus E. Nowakowski, Jr. of Rehoboth Beach, Gail Nowakowski Stenger of Milton, DE, Carole Nowakowski Morrison of Pocomoke City, MD, Kevin Nowakowski of Vero Beach, FL and Bruce Anthony Nowakowski of Lewes. DE; 10 grandchildren: Thad Nowakowski, Andy Nowakowski, Clare Nowakowski, Aric Boyd, Jeremy Boyd, Christy Betts, Natalie Crist, Frank Morrison, Jr., Wendy Baird and Jamie Nowakowski; and 9 great-grandchildren: Cameron Nowakowski, Lilly Nowakowski, Dylan Nowakowski, Payton Nowakowski, Alexi Nowakowski, Noah Crist, Emerson Crist, Anderson Boyd and Ian Betts; and his 90 year old brother William Nowakowski of Lake Wales, FL.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 12, 11:00 AM at St. Edmond's Catholic Church, King Charles and Laurel Streets, Rehoboth Beach with interment to follow at Epworth Methodist Cemetery in Rehoboth Beach. Friends may call at St. Edmond's on Tuesday beginning at 10:00 AM. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes, DE. (www.parsellfuneralhomes.com)
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Bay Health Foundation - Rehab Unit, Bay Health Medical Center, 640 South State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
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