Thomas James Nowak Jr. died Jan. 10, 2001 in Traverse City. Tom was born in Toledo, Ohio on Jan. 15, 1917. In his youth, after losing a leg in an accident, he gained notoriety through his athletic prowess, which included bicycling from Toledo to Florida. Mr. Nowak was preceded in death by his sisters, Julia (Walter) Godlewski and Josephine Matuszewski, and brothers, Frank (Florence) Nowak, Raymond (Norma) Nowak and Eugene Nowak. He is survived by sisters, Emily (Walter) Tesznar, Florence Kolodziejczyk, Martha (Cas) Tucholski, and Eleanore (Ralph) Juhnke; brother, Richie (Arlene) Nowak; brother-in-law, Richard Matuszewski; and sister-in-law, Mary Nowak. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio. There was a brief graveside memorial service conducted by the Rev. Paul Kwiatkowski for family and friends on Jan. 18. Uncle Tom was cremated. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed "Rest in Peace." Gaylord Herald Times, Thursday, May 3, 2001