Anton S. Nowacki

Anton Nowacki, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away on April 28, 2014 in El Paso, Texas. He is preceded in death by his wife Marge in 2005 and his parents, Michael and Mary (Grembowski) Nowacki, brothers: Florian, Julian, Larry and Eloyse Nowacki, and sisters: Delorse Nowacki and Aurelia Paschke. He is survived by his sister Alice Ekman of Denver and, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and numerous extended family. Visitation will be held from 5-9 pm, with vigil to begin at 7 pm on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at Sunset Funeral Home-Northeast. Funeral Mass will be held at 1:30 pm on Monday, May 5, 2014 at St. Michael’s (Fort Bliss Chapel #2). Interment to follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services Entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass, El Paso, TX. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Heart Association – Attn. Sara Smith 10900-B Stonelake Blvd., Ste. 320 Austin, Texas 78759. Anton Stanley Nowacki or more affectionately known as “Tony” to friends and family, was born and raised in a farming community at Argyle, Minnesota, next to the Canadian border. Being the youngest of 9 children he probably took direction from all his brothers and sisters. Yet, the direction of his parents who were hard workers influenced him to be a person of high standards and values. He was raised in the Catholic Church and when you see his first communion photo you see in his eyes the determination with which he would approach life with all its joys and hardships. Despite these healthy, challenging and beautiful surroundings, at the age of 17, new horizons motivated him to enlist in the Army. This was an opportunity to see the world and experience the struggles and suffering of war. He married “Marge” as he affectionately called her in 1962. They had many mutual friends that surrounded them. They enjoyed going out on Friday to dine and touch base with their friends. They especially enjoyed going to the La Florida in Juarez. During these years Juarez was a very popular tourist attraction and a delightful place to enjoy entertainment and friends. Eventually Tony’s work would take him on various assignments in the Southwest. As an installer for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, he and Marge would spend long periods away in places like Deming and other small New Mexico towns. They would return with full of stories of new friends and their tours to surrounding natural parks. Tony loved to drive. He had a CB radio in his car that would keep up on all the conversations of truck drivers. He enjoyed having a good car for the trips they took. Later into retirement Tony traveled to Seattle, Denver and a few years ago took a long trek returning to Argyle to visit his parents’ graves and stopping by to visit his sister-in-law Joyce Nowacki and cousins. This was a three-day journey from El Paso to Argyle. This was the first sign that he was beginning to accept his aging. He did not drive, but was driven by his nephew Stephen Gaucin. Tony would take Marge and other family members up to Seattle to visit with Mary and Frank Horton. He enjoyed bringing the family together and would include Bob and Alice Fortini and Rudy and Amada de la Rosa on his trips to see the family. He enjoyed visiting his sister, Alice and nephew, Harley Deschene in Denver. Chuy de la Rosa recalls intimately the trips Tony and Marge would take to visit him wherever he was stationed. They always had an open door in their home for the Brothers of his community, the Brothers of St. John of God. Many of the Brothers recall Tony driving up in his Town Car and were always ready to enter into the life of the Brothers’ community by preparing his fabulous version of menudo, tacos and nachos. Tony and Marge built community by bringing people together in the breaking of the bread with food, drinks and cheer. Tony had a unique brand of hospitality. There are many stories to be told about Tony, his love of the El Paso Diablos baseball team, the Dallas Cowboys and the UTEP Miners Sports Teams. Tony was a regular guy who enjoyed family, friends, and good ole country music. Tony, we will miss your interest in each one of us. Your political and economic views along with your frustrations of our national and city government made for interesting conversations. You saw the world changing and at times this was hard for you. Your philosophy of tough love never insulted you. Just new things could be better and you said it honestly. Remember us in your heavenly home where you enjoy the company of your entire family and others you loved.