Alma Nowak

Alma Nowak, age 96 of Scottsdale, Arizona, a former longtime Ogallala resident, passed away on August 8, 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 16th at St. Luke’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 17th at St. Luke’s Catholic Church with Father Bryan Ernest as celebrant. Burial will be in the Ogallala Cemetery.

Alma was born April 7, 1916 at Halbur, Iowa, the daughter of John and Clara (Dopheide) Friedman. In 1921 the family moved to Ogallala, Nebraska. She atteneded St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic School in Carrole, Iowa, staying with her maternal grandparents. She attended rural school at District 22 and attended and attended the 8th and 9th grades in Mc Carmel, Iowa while staying with her aunt and uncle. She graduated from the Ogallala High School in 1934. After obtaining a teaching certificate she taught two years in rural schools in Keith County.

On June 16, 1936 she married William V. Nowak at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ogallala. They resided in Ogallala except for when they resided in Colorado Springs, CO and Victoria, TX when Bill was working for a construction company. In 1954 she started to work as a salesclerk for Storer’s Jewelry and continued her employment for Robert Edgar when he bought the store, retiring after more than thirty years of employment at the store.

Alma was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church and was a member and had served as President of the Altar Society. She was an Associate Member of the Legion of Mary and the Ursuline Order. She had been a member of the Women’s Committee of the Chamber of Commerce for over thirty years and had served as President of the organization. She also belonged to the Highland Project Club and was a member of the RSVP. In 1979 and 2004 she received the Good Neighbor Award and in 1998 the Women’s Committee of the Chamber of Commerce presented her with the Distinguished Service Award and in 2003 the Woman of the Year Award.

Alma moved from Ogallala in July of 2005 to Scottsdale, AZ to be closer to family members. She had been a member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church and a Bible Study at the church. Her hobbies included playing bridge, reading and line dancing.

Survivors include three daughters, Rita (Ernest) Valdez of Santa Fe, NM, ReLayne (James) Everett of Apache Junction, AZ and Sheryl (Rodney) Robertson of Scottsdale, AZ; three sons, William J. (Donna) Nowak of Louisville, KY, Barry (Maralee) Nowak of Lincoln, NE and Radley Nowak of Mesa, AZ; 11 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren and 1 step great grandchild; a brother, Harold Friedman of Ogallala; a sister Helen (Bill) Becks of San Pedro, CA and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William V. Nowak; a brother, Lavern Friedman; a sister, Estella Nowak; a grandson, Nicholas Nowak and a step granddaughter, Natashea White.

Memorials may be made to the St. Luke’s Endowment Trust Fund or the St. Bernard of Clairvaux Building Fund in her memory. Online condolences may be sent at gubserfuneralhome.com. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Gubser Funeral Home. Gubser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.