Bernard Nowak, 93, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Ben was born in Chicago on June 9, 1931, the son of William Nowak and Mary (Michalski) Wisniewski. Ben graduated from Chicago Vocational High School, where he learned his love of woodworking. “Lefty” (his nickname) joined the Marines in 1951 and served for 2 years. He had fond memories of his time at Camp Pendelton in Oceanside, CA. Ben made his career as a Pipefitter with Interlake Steel/ACME until his retirement. He was a die-hard Cubs Fan, loved gardening, fishing, playing poker, woodworking, listening to country music, and spending time with family.
On August 25, 1956, at St. Ann’s Church in Lansing, Illinois, Ben married the love of his life, Marjorie Heiberger. They honeymooned in California and last year they celebrated 68 years of marriage.
Remaining to cherish Ben's memory are his wife, Marjorie “Margie” Nowak; children: Joseph (Kathy Kowal) Nowak of Wheaton, IL, Eileen (Gerald) Keene of Porter, IN, Mary (Kenneth) Moskwa of Valparaiso, IN; grandchildren: Elizabeth (Tom) Cichocki, Jeremy Keene, Matthew (Megan Winkiel-Keene) Keene, Christopher (Alyssa) Keene, Alyssa Moskwa, Nicholas (Elizabeth) Moskwa; great-grandchildren: Christian and Landon Keene, Connor and Benjamin Cichocki, and Myles Moskwa; along with many nieces and nephews. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, William Nowak and Mary Wisniewski; brother, Eugene Wisniewski; sisters, Delores Thew and Leona Matczak.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Moeller Funeral Home, 104 Roosevelt Road, Valparaiso, IN, with a memorial service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment of ashes to follow at Angelcrest Cemetery, Valparaiso, IN. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ben’s name to the American Bladder Cancer Society.
