William Nowak

Bill Nowak passed away April 20th, 2017 at the age of 86. Born March 9th, 1931 in Brno, Czech Republic to William and Milada Nowak, Bill was a survivor of the Second World War. Bill and his mother were imprisoned in a Russian concentration camp at the end of the war. In 1949, 18-year-old Bill traveled with his sister aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth I to the USA to join their mother who had made a home in Oklahoma. Bill then joined the US Army and served in the Korean War for several years. After he came home, Bill became a US citizen and married the love of his life, Betty Martineau. Bill was a proud member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 344 for more than 60 years. He was preceded in death by Betty and son-in-law Paul Skaggs. Bill is survived by daughters Janice Skaggs and Barbara King, husband Paul all of OKC, sister Anna Nowak of Norman, Grandchildren Bill Skaggs and wife Katie of Washington, DC, Kelsey Poe and Ben, Haley Hamel and David, Melissa Skaggs, Shelby Steinkirchner and Robert, great grandchildren Weyland and Waverly Poe and Parker and Chandler Hamel, all of Oklahoma City. Bill is also survived by nieces, a nephew and their children. Family will be receiving visitors on Monday, April 24th from 6-8 pm at Smith & Kernke on 23rd Street in Oklahoma City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, April 25th at 10 am at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the general scholarship fund at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.