Theodore Nowakowski

Theodore “Ted” John Nowakowski, son of Theodore Paul Nowakowski and Carol Kathleen (Hiney) Nowakowski, was born Nov. 23, 1948, in Dayton, Ohio, and passed from this life Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines at 69 years of age.

Ted grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from Kiser High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967 to 1970 in Vietnam, receiving two Purple Hearts. Following an honorable discharge, he entered Wright State College and later, Mankato State College, where he met the love of his life, Kathy Pauly; Ted graduated with a bachelor’s degree. He was united in marriage to Kathleen Mary Pauly on Dec. 31, 1977, at St. John the Baptist Church in Jordan, Minnesota. They moved to Murray following their marriage. Ted was an art teacher and later, a principal at Murray Community School, retiring in 2010. He received his Master’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

Ted was a family man and really loved his wife and grandkids. He was recently named to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest surviving heart transplant recipient at 34 years, 8 months and 17 days. He coached little league, junior high and high school football at Murray, enjoyed hunting, fishing, college football, sitting by the fire, reading the Des Moines Register and eating Hershey’s bars. He and Kathy just moved to Winterset in October of 2017.

Ted leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Kathy Nowakowski of Winterset; daughter Sarah (Matthew) Kirkland of Winterset; son Neil (fiance Krystal Dominguez) Nowakowski of Murray; daughter Chelsea (Tate) Christensen of Winterset; grandchildren, Leo Kirkland, Worth Theodore Kirkland, Tristin Thio Nowakowski, Libby Christensen and Daphne Christensen; sister Barbra Sumner of Florida; sister Caron (Rick) Sempier of Dayton, Ohio; brother Mike (Roxy) Nowakowski of Dayton, Ohio; brother Paul Nowakowski of Florida; as well as other relatives and many friends. His parents preceded him in death.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset with Father Dan Kirby officiating. Family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, with a Rosary service to follow at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola. Cremation was entrusted to Kale Funeral Home and interment will be in Murray Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a tribute to be decided at a later date. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.