On August 3, 2018,
while listening to Nat King Cole sing “Stardust,” Irene Augusta (Gus) Nowak
passed away in Evanston, Illinois, surrounded by members of her family.
Born in Gary,
Indiana, on August 10, 1922, Irene was a proud eastsider, longtime resident
of Rhode Island Street, and graduate of Emerson High School. She and her
dear husband Chester moved to Dune Acres in 1970 and resided there until he
passed away in November 2003. Always an independent lady, in 2006 she moved
to Valparaiso, first to Meridian Woods and then to Pines Village. After a
debilitating stroke she moved to Symphony of Evanston.
Irene was preceded
in death by her husband Chester Nowak and son John Nowak (Barbara).
She is survived by
daughters Michel Lynn Inaba of Berkeley, California, and Janna Caldarelli
(David) of Evanston, Illinois, son Paul Nowak (Beth) of Valparaiso, Indiana,
and sister Violet Patricia Pavel of Hobart, Indiana. She is also survived by
grandchildren Deborah Rapacz (Tony), Rebecca Augdahl (Dan), Leslie
Granchalek (Aleksandr), Megan Hunter (Todd), Adam Caldarelli (Claire), Ian
Inaba, Christopher Nowak, Katie Nowak, and Evan Nowak, as well as eight
great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Irene graduated
from Indiana University with a Master of Science in Education in 1971 and
taught in the Gary School System. She was an avid reader, a supporter of the
library, and an active volunteer in adult literacy. She participated in the
League of Women Voters and was passionate about Save the Dunes. She was a
lifelong learner and educator, reflective in her decision to donate her body
to medical science. A love of dance, music, and theater began in childhood
and continued throughout her life. She hoped that Chester was working on his
dance lessons in heaven. She will be deeply missed by all her knew her.
As she wanted, a
celebration lunch will be held for family and friends. Please join us at 1
p.m., Sunday, September 16, 2018, at the Shorewood Forest Clubhouse, 410
Shorewood Court, Valparaiso, Indiana. Those who so desire may make donations
to Save the Dunes (savedunes.org) or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (jdrf.org).