Dale D. Nowak

Dale D. Nowak, 82, of St. Paul, was surrounded by his loving family when he went to be with the Lord on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Ray Kosmicki will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery west of St. Paul. Graveside military honors will be provided by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Dale was born on Oct. 3, 1934, on the family farm, in the Midway area west of St. Paul, the son of Pete and Victoria (Curtis) Nowak. He attended Howard County District No. 8 rural school and was a 1952 graduate of St. Paul High School. Dale served in the United States Army from Feb. to Dec. of 1957. He was united in marriage to Elaine R. Pokorski on Sept. 27, 1958, at Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Paplin. The couple lived and farmed in the Midway area, where they were blessed with three children: Kevin, Kimberly and Jeff. Dale was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council No. 1918, and was the vice president of St. Wenceslaus Cemetery Board. Dale was elected to the Farwell Irrigation District Board of Directors in 1972. He was elected Chairman in 1984 and served on the Board until Feb. 2011. He was very instrumental in the effort to get the District away from the federal government, which happened, when the title was transferred to local hands in Nov. 2002. His passion for the District activities was to make sure that water users were treated fairly and that the price of water was affordable. Farming was Dale's true passion, but he also enjoyed reading, keeping a daily journal, collecting trolls, polka and old country music, watching football and the Wheel of Fortune, telling jokes and visiting with family and friends. He dearly loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, of St. Paul; daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Rodney Symons of Canon City, CO; son, Jeff Nowak and Jeanie of St. Paul; daughter-in-law, Mary (Nowak) Ross of Grand Island; brother, Roger Nowak of St. Paul. He also leaves to cherish his memory, seven grandchildren, Sarah, Brandon, Whitney, Taylor, Macey, Jayson and Zachariah; and two great grandchildren, Rylan and Kenlee. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kevin Nowak; and sister, Maxine (Miller) Meyer. In lieu of flowers and plants, the family requests that memorials be given to St. Wenceslaus Cemetery or to the family's choice.