Robert J. Nowakowski

Passed away peacefully on Monday, August 15, 2022 surrounded by his family after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 78 years. He was born to Chester and Helen (nee Talaga) Nowakowski in August of 1943. As a child he was involved in dancing with the PNA of Milwaukee, WI. He attended Pulaski High School Milwaukee where he was a gymnast. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he obtained his BS in Mechanical Engineering followed by an MBA and obtained his PE. He was also a member of ROTC while in college. He married the love of his life Mary C. Berdes on August 13, 1966 and had 3 children. He served in Vietnam in 1967-68 and remained in the reserves for several years after returning home. His professional life started as a Mechanical Engineer at Louis Allis Co. in Milwaukee, WI. Then, he transitioned to Orion Corporation in Grafton, WI. He completed his career as President and COO after 35 years of service. He loved to travel with family and friends all over the world. He especially loved traveling to Italy and Poland. He was also a scuba diver and went on multiple adventures with his wife which included ice diving, cave diving and ship wreck diving. He loved to hunt and fish and especially enjoyed time at his cottage with family and friends. He was a mentor to so many, both family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Helen (nee Talaga) Nowakowski. He is survived by his wife, Mary (nee Berdes) Nowakowski, children Katherine (Larry) Treankler, Rose (David) Ziats and Kurt (Cass Kurth) Nowakowski. His grandchildren, Helen, Kaitlynn, Kaia, Layne (Jeremy) & Lance (Jordan). Great Grandchildren Bryce, Hailey and Landon. He is also survived by his brother Thomas (Jeanette) Nowakowski, Aunt Veronica Kress, brother-in-law Roman (Barbara) Berdes, sisters-in-law Marguerite (Dennis) Rygiewicz, Judy (Henry) Petrovs and Bernadette (James Lillie) Berdes and many other nieces and nephews. His involvement with the St. Josaphat Basilica Foundation was important to him. The family asks that any memorials be made to the St. Josaphat Basilica Foundation in his honor. Visitation Thursday, August 25 at the ROZGA FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES - LINCOLN VILLAGE CHAPEL from 4:00 – 8:00 PM with a Vigil Service at 6:00 PM and additional Visitation Friday, August 26 from 9:30-10:30 AM. Funeral Friday at 10:30 AM from the Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 AM at the BASILICA OF ST. JOSAPHAT, 601 W. Lincoln Ave. Entombment St. Adalbert Cemetery. Rozga Funeral & Cremation Services Lincoln Village Chapel 703 West Lincoln Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53215